Gigi Rubin, Staff Writer

Fantasy football and other fantasy sports have quickly gained popularity, but students should be careful before they start doling out cash.

            Gambling can be the gateway to many other problems, such as increased drug and alcohol usage or certain disorders. It can also lead to antisocial behaviors - a form of personality disorder.

            A recent research study performed by John W. Welte, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at the UB Research Institute on Addictions, was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. It found that 10 percent of boys between the ages of 14 and 21 exhibit symptoms of conduct disorder as well as symptoms of risky or problem gambling.

            The study also showed that female adolescents in the same age group exhibit conduct disorders and risky or problem gambling, but to a much lesser degree.

            Grace M. Barnes, Ph.D., Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell and Joseph H. Hoffman, M.A. participated in the research as well.

            According to the study, which used findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, there is “significant co-morbidity of pathological gambling with antisocial personality disorder, alcohol use disorders, drug use disorders and nicotine dependence.”

            In another study, it was found that aside from the above disorders, gambling was also correlated with sexual activity.

            Participants in the survey were asked a series of questions based on the 12 known behaviors of gambling addicts, which include trying to win money that the person previously lost, the person telling others that they are winning when they actually are not, gambling with more money than the person intended and borrowing or stealing money to gamble.

            Matthew Frank, a freshman film studies and communication major, agreed that fantasy sports can be harmful.

            “[Fantasy sports] can definitely lead to gambling problems and addictions,” he said. “You have to be smart about it because it can be extremely damaging. It accumulates, too, because you may spend large amounts of money on more than one sport. You shouldn't participate in a money league if you have a shaky financial situation.”

            Welte said the findings agree.

            “Gambling problems that emerge early are likely to be part of a general pattern of problem behavior, whereas gambling problems that emerge later may have an etiology unique to gambling,” Welte said.

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