Former compulsive gambler turned renowned counselor Arnie Wexler didn't have to read far into the accounts of Adrian McPherson's arrest on a gambling charge to recognize some disturbing signs.
Witnesses told police McPherson didn't use his own name on the online account, an attempt to avoid detection, and that he quickly escalated his bets to $1,000.
"That's the kind of stuff compulsive gamblers do," Wexler said. "I'd love to talk to him and tell this kid he's not alone."
McPherson has maintained his innocence and will have his day in court this week, but Wexler's underlying point is sobering:
An increasing number of adolescents (ages 13-17), especially boys, are gambling. Studies indicate youths are "two to four times more likely to develop a gambling problem than the adult population," said Pat Fowler, executive director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc.
Part of the problem, she said, is kids don't sense the same concerns about gambling from their parents, teachers or society at large as is shown with drug and alcohol use.
Education at an early age is the key, she said, especially for athletes. An athlete's competitiveness and confidence serve him well on the field, but those traits work against him when it comes to gambling and can lead to serious problems and far-reaching implications.
According to a recent University of Michigan study, nearly 35 percent of student-athletes had gambled on sports while attending college and more than 5 percent of the male student-athletes provided inside information for gambling purposes, bet on a game in which they had played or accepted money to play poorly.
When student-athletes arrive at FSU, one of their first stops is an orientation meeting with compliance director Bob Minnix, who discusses issues such as agents, gambling and amateurism rules. Before a bowl game or NCAA Tournament game, a student-athlete also must complete and sign an eligibility affidavit, which asks specifically about gambling.
Beyond that, Minnix has helped develop a gambling awareness program with tentacles that extend throughout campus life. FSU recently had a symposium in conjunction with that effort and brought in Fowler, an FBI agent, an NCAA representative and former campus bookie Benny Silman, who served 46 months in federal prison for his role in point-shaving scandals while a student at Arizona State in the mid 1990s. Attendance was mandatory for all athletes and athletic department personnel.
The NCAA hails FSU's effort as a model for other universities.
"Ever since I've been here, my major approach to solving any problem, be it sports agents, gambling, drinking, drug abuse, is to educate the kids the best we can," Minnix said.
But education is one thing; spotting the gambler in their midst is another.
"You can't be with them 24 hours a day; for the most part they're 18 or older, so they're adults," Minnix said.
"It's invisible. It's hidden. There's no track marks. There's no diluted pupils. There's no smell," Wexler said. "You could be a compulsive gambler and nobody's going to know until you hit the desperation phase."
If the NCAA finds a student-athlete has gambled, it imposes at least a one-year suspension. The punishment is lifetime if the student-athlete bet on his or her own team. The NCAA has produced a poster that underscores the risk:
"DON'T BET ON IT"
"Your Future Could Go Up In Flames"
Wexler and Fowler, however, criticize the NCAA's harsh stance.
"The NCAA absolutely does not encourage a kid to seek help," Fowler said. "The minute they breathe a word of it, they're done. Their scholarship is gone. Their athletic career is gone. Why on earth would a kid step forward and say, "I need help?' That's one of the major problems."
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there are numerous 24-hour hotlines to call for confidential help. The NCAA provides a national number (800) 522-4700; the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc.'s helpline is (888) ADMIT-IT; and Arnie Wexler can be reached at (888) LAST-BET.
