Students ante up to college poker craze

The newest craze among college students doesn't involve leaving campus; it merely involves a deck of cards.

A gambling craze has been spreading at campuses across the country and even at Towson.

It doesn't take much to find a card game with stakes that vary from $5 buy-ins to no bet limit at all. Playing poker is now a social event that is becoming as popular as going to the movies or partying.

At "Play To Win? Gambling & The College Student," a seminar sponsored by the TU Counseling Center last Wednesday, staff members discussed the risks of gambling with students.

Counseling Center extern Grace Riley is concerned the influx of attention to the latest trend may be something to worry about.

"College-aged students are the number one bracket in the poker craze," she said. "A 2004 study found college students three times higher to have a gambling issue than the adult population."

Texas Hold 'Em and Black Jack are the most commonly played fixtures, but gambling can include betting on sporting events as well.

Some Towson players now use TheFacebook.com to plan poker tournaments. Groups like "Gamblers Needed" and "Towson Poker " have dozens of members. With gambling-based television shows now on ESPN and BRAVO, poker has reached a wider range of people.

Richard Snyder, a junior computer science and math major, attributes the fad to both the media and the cash incentive.

"I think that poker has become more mainstream in television and that has aided its popularity. It has become cool to play poker , and also the prizes can help a college student in need of money," he said.

Riley said some college students become dependent on the possibility of cash and even believe in the gambler's fallacy.

She explained that often times gamblers believe if you lose so many times you feel you must be due for a win, but that theory does not hold true.

Counseling Center Extern Keith Kaufman said the rise of gambling online should also be taken seriously.

Gambling online has taken off because "most people in college have credit cards and flexible schedules," he said.

However, many players do not realize gambling online is illegal in many states, including Maryland.

"The federal government is trying really hard to crack down. The problem is enforcement," Kaufman added.

He also warns that gaming sites, which are accessible at nearly any time of day, often try to trap customers by finding ways of not just getting people to their sites but also by keeping them there.

Jared Frankel, a senior business administration major, doesn't look at poker in terms of money.

"Playing poker is a cool thing to do because you can kick back with your boys. It's not just about winning the pot, but its also chill time with your friends who you don't always get to see because of conflicting schedules," Frankel said.

Students like Robert Selman, a freshman business administration major, finds betting to be entertaining, and not necessarily because of the cash involved.

"I think it's such a big craze because there are students who come to college that already know how to play, and they spread the game along to others. I was never into it before college, but I caught on quickly. I find the game to be interesting in its own way," Selman said.

Junior computer science major Andrew Berdak agrees." Poker is a fun social activity that brings people together and doesn't cost much. It's an alternative to drinking and it's an addicting game," he said.

The Counseling Center staffers said students should worry if their friends start borrowing money to pay debts, have no ability to stop playing, or are neglecting their responsibilities. But often, the game is just a way to have fun.

"I had a semi-regular card game with some friends last year and even though I never won I kept playing not because of the money, but because I was able to be with my friends," Frankel said.