Recent headlines show that sports betting is no longer on the sidelines—it’s impacting athletes, teams, and the integrity of competition itself. NBA player Terry Rozier was arrested as part of a gambling inquiry (ESPN, 2025a), and the NCAA is investigating betting violations in men’s college basketball programs (ESPN, 2025b). These stories remind us that gambling is no longer just a fan activity. It has become a real and growing concern within athletic environments, from college programs to professional leagues.
Motivation and Meaning: Why Do the Stakes Need To Be Higher?
In sport psychology, motivation is what drives athletes to push harder, stay focused, and compete with purpose. Many athletes thrive on the rush that comes with high-stakes moments—the adrenaline of performing under pressure and the satisfaction of success. But when that feeling fades, some look for other ways to bring it back.
That’s where betting can enter the picture. It’s worth reflecting on questions like:
Do you need betting to make the game exciting again?
Why do the stakes have to be higher?
What’s behind the need for constant meaning, value, or risk?
These questions help athletes explore whether their motivation comes from within (intrinsic) or depends on outside thrills (extrinsic). When excitement or self-worth relies too much on external rewards such as money, attention, or wins, the drive that once fueled healthy competition can become tied to risky decisions.
When Excitement Becomes Addiction: Understanding the Brain
Research shows that gambling activates the same dopamine system that fuels pleasure, motivation, and reward in athletes (Volkow & Morales, 2015; Weiss et al., 2021). Over time, the brain becomes more drawn to the anticipation of reward than the reward itself, reinforcing the behavior even when the outcomes are negative.
Athletes may be especially vulnerable to this cycle. Their training connects challenge and reward, and they learn that effort brings progress and that discomfort often leads to achievement. But when that same system responds to betting, the brain begins chasing the “rush” of uncertainty rather than the meaning of the sport itself. The result can be a powerful cycle that feels difficult to control.
Addictive behavior in this context is not about weakness. It’s about how the brain learns to associate excitement with risk. Understanding that connection is key to prevention and recovery.
Why Confidence Can Turn Risky
Athletes often develop a strong sense of confidence and control, believing that preparation can overcome any obstacle. This mindset is essential in sport, but it can be dangerous when applied to gambling.
Psychologist Ellen Langer (1975) called this the illusion of control: the mistaken belief that skill or effort can influence random outcomes. In gambling, that illusion can make athletes believe they can “read” the game better than others or outsmart the odds. Combined with the natural sense of invincibility and competitiveness many athletes develop, this can lead to emotional, financial, and ethical consequences that extend beyond the individual.
The Genie Is Not Going Back in the Bottle
Sports betting is now woven into the culture of athletics. With major leagues partnering with betting companies and easy-to-use apps making wagers accessible anywhere, it’s a reality we cannot ignore. The genie isn’t going back in the bottle. The question isn’t whether betting will exist in sport—it’s how we choose to respond to it. Understanding, not avoidance, is the first step toward prevention.
Moving Forward: Awareness and Balance
Sports betting is not going away. It’s part of today’s sports culture. The key is learning how to manage it responsibly. For athletes, coaches, and sport organizations, awareness and education are essential.
Sport psychology can help by:
- Teaching self-awareness and emotional regulation
- Helping athletes understand motivation and risk
- Encouraging healthy ways to find excitement and meaning
- Supporting athletes in building an identity beyond sport
When mental health and decision-making are part of performance discussions, athletes are better equipped to handle the pressures and distractions of modern competition.
What Sport Organizations Can Do
Recognize the Full Picture
Sports betting is not just a compliance or rules issue. It’s also a mental health and performance issue. The same systems that drive focus and competitiveness are also the ones that respond to reward and risk. Protecting athletes means helping them manage these systems wisely.
Educate and Create Safe Conversations
Education should include more than policy briefings. It should create reflective, values-based conversations such as:
- What draws you toward higher stakes or more excitement?
- How do you find meaning when competition feels routine?
- What role does risk play in how you define motivation or success?
These discussions help athletes think critically about their motivation and values rather than simply reacting to external pressure or temptation.
Use Sport Psychology as Prevention
Sport psychology professionals can take a proactive role by:
- Helping athletes reconnect with intrinsic motivation
- Identifying impulsive or “invincible” thinking patterns
- Teaching coping strategies for boredom, stress, or downtime
When prevention comes before crisis, athletes are empowered to make healthier choices under pressure.
Build a Collaborative System
Strong support systems that include sport psychologists, mental performance consultants, compliance officers, and medical staff allow for early identification and consistent care. Clear communication and confidentiality help athletes feel safe seeking help before problems escalate.
Support a Whole-Person Culture
Athletes perform best when they’re valued for who they are, not just for what they achieve. Promoting balance, purpose, and identity beyond performance reduces the pull of high-risk behaviors that offer temporary excitement or escape.
Do’s and Don’ts for Addressing Sports Betting in Athletics
Do:
- Talk openly about betting as part of sport culture
- Encourage reflection on risk, reward, and motivation
- Integrate sport psychology into prevention and education
- Offer confidential and judgment-free support
- Emphasize intrinsic motivation and long-term well-being
- Recognize that gambling is a permanent part of modern sport
Don’t:
- Treat gambling only as a disciplinary or compliance issue
- Ignore how competitiveness connects to risk-taking
- Rely on fear-based messaging to prevent betting
- Assume elite athletes are immune to addiction or impulsivity
- Wait for a public incident before addressing the issue
Sports betting isn’t something that can be erased from athletics—it’s something we must learn to navigate wisely. Athletes, coaches, and organizations can choose awareness, prevention, and open dialogue over silence or punishment. When sport psychology principles guide that process, we protect not only performance but the people behind it.
Taking Action
Taking proactive measures to address risky behaviors like gambling is an important part of minimizing those risks. White House Sport Psychology can help your athlete / team / athletic department address this issue before it becomes a problem. Click HERE to connect with us and learn more about the lessons, strategies, and group presentations we can provide around this important topic.
References
ESPN. (2025a, November 5). Terry Rozier arrested as part of gambling inquiry. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46695228/sources-terry-rozier-arrested-part-gambling-inquiry
ESPN. (2025b, November 6). NCAA gambling investigation expands to men’s basketball programs. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46791757/ncaa-gambling-investigation-college-basketball
Langer, E. J. (1975). The illusion of control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32(2), 311–328.
Volkow, N. D., & Morales, M. (2015). The brain on drugs: From reward to addiction. Cell, 162(4), 712–725.
Weiss, F., Bariselli, S., & Morales, M. (2021). Reexamining the role of dopamine in drug addiction and reward. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(12), 2323–2339.
