SENATOR SLAP LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL INSTITUTING PROBLEM GAMBLING PROGRAMS AT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

April 22, 2026

Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation requiring on-campus programs regarding problem gambling at public Connecticut colleges and universities.

“Problem gambling is a serious problem, especially for college students who are exposed to introductory offers and advertising telling them they can win big, which can set them up for significant losses,” said Sen. Slap. “This bill will ensure students struggling with problem gambling can receive the aid they need on their college campuses. Adding these resources will help protect students from dangerous gambling enticement.”

Since the legalization of gambling in many states, including in Connecticut in 2021, reports of problem gambling among the public have risen, with college students particularly vulnerable.

A UConn study from 2025 found 72% of Connecticut undergraduates reported gambling in the last year, and while 8.3% exhibited symptoms of problem gambling, less than 1% received help. About 17% of students reported moderate problem gambling.

Senate Bill 381 would require Connecticut’s public colleges and universities to provide a program on-campus about problem gambling at least once per academic year, which includes information about on-campus and community resources helping treat and rehabilitate those struggling.

That program will likely develop through contracting with nonprofits; institutions may give priority to nonprofit organizations receiving support from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ compulsive gambling treatment and rehabilitation program.

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance and Mohegan Tribe were among the organizations to endorse the legislation. The Council noted student gambling has close ties to student well-being, with poorer academic outcomes and overall campus success struggling as a result.

The Alliance noted in testimony that 40% of problem gamblers calling the state’s gambling helpline are from someone in their 20s and added the growth of Polymarket and Kalshi, among other unregulated “prediction markets” allowing gambling on real-world outcomes of various events, is making the problem worse. The Mohegan Tribe noted gaming needs to be offered in a way prioritizing health and well-being, calling the legislation a “sensible measure.”

The bill passed with a 36-0 vote after passing the Higher Education Committee by a 17-1 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.