Online gambling websites, especially those offering poker, are becoming more and more popular among UW-Madison students as an outlet for their time and money.
These websites, such as www.partypoker.net and www.empirepoker.com, allow players to create an account and let them place money into that account by paying with their credit card. Once an account is created, a player may choose from several stakes and several games'mostly variations on poker, although blackjack is becoming increasingly popular. While some websites offer free games so players can practice, gambling for money remains the crux.
UW-Madison freshman Nathan Fuller said he enjoys online gambling, but for his own reasons.
'I love the rush of competing against people,' Fuller said. 'I love the fact that I don't need a job because I can make my money off online gambling.'
According to UW-Madison professor of psychiatry Ann Kelley, the 'rush' Fuller experienced can be attributed to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
'With regard to the brain, a few studies have shown that neurotransmitters'dopamine, for example'are realized during gambling,' Kelley said. 'Dopamine is associated with a sort of psycho-stimulant effect'it would increase arousal, it would probably improve concentration and attention, it would lead to general feelings of well-being.'
But, despite the good feelings elicited by online gambling, most students do not see it as a replacement for the 'real' thing.
'I like playing in person at a casino because it gives you a better feel for the game ?? [but] I'm under 21, so I can't in Wisconsin,' said UW-Madison sophomore and finance major Luke Eggum, acknowledging one of the biggest incentives of online gambling among 18 to 20-year-old students.
'I personally don't think it's as fun as playing with friends, but it's a good way to kill some time, plus, you can make some money in the process if you know what you're doing,' said Michael Bjork, a UW-Madison freshman.
That caveat is an important one, according to Bjork, who explained that someone on his floor in the dormitory 'lost a few thousand dollars' playing online poker.
Bjork outlined his cautionary strategy. 'You should be smart enough to set a limit before you start playing,' he said. 'And if you end up using more money than what you set out to you should really consider stopping.'
