Loyola University Chicago Launches Course Examining Sports Betting Regulation and Mental Health Risks

Loyola University Chicago is introducing an undergraduate course on the impact of sports betting and prediction markets on the US sports industry. The Quinlan School of Business launched the program in Spring 2025, led by Noah Henderson. It addresses commercial partnerships, regulatory frameworks, and ethical questions as gambling becomes embedded in daily sports consumption.

Promotions appear constantly on television, social media, and at venues. Operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM maintain heavy investments in leagues, teams, and media rights. These developments accelerated after the 2018 US Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, which opened the door to legalization in 39 states and Washington, DC.

Regulatory Differences Across Sports Betting and Prediction Platforms

Illinois mandates that sports bettors be 21 or older and prohibits wagers on local college teams. Prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket accept users at 18 and allow contracts on college sports. These platforms operate under Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) supervision rather than state gambling regulators. The mismatch creates questions about whether federal authority overrides state-level restrictions, as reported by GamblingNews.

Mental Health Concerns and Loyola’s Educational Response

Expanded access through smartphones has been tied to riskier gambling patterns. A 2008 study of 1,800 students in Mississippi found roughly one-quarter gambled, with 7% meeting criteria for problem gambling. Those students were more likely to experience mental health difficulties, though researchers have not settled questions of causation.

The Loyola course incorporates addiction science, consumer safeguards, and ethical issues around marketing to younger or economically vulnerable audiences. The university also partners with its School of Social Work, Cicero Family Services, and the Illinois Department of Human Services to host the annual Latine Problem Gambling Conference.

Educational programs of this type will prove increasingly relevant as the sector expands. They supply future professionals with frameworks to balance commercial growth against measurable harms and inconsistent oversight.

Reporting: GamblingNews

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