Skip To Main Content
Students walking on campus
No post to display.

Gambling Addiction Speaker Shares Personal Journey with Students

Post RSS Feeds Subscribe to Post Alerts
A man in a striped shirt is speaking into a microphone in front of an American flag backdrop.
  • Speaker Program
Gambling Addiction Speaker Shares Personal Journey with Students

 Saul Malek, a 26-year-old recovering gambling addict, spoke in chapel this week to share his personal story about the dangers of sports betting and gambling addiction among young adults.

In his talk to students, titled "Why RISK your life? LIVE IT!", Mr. Malek recounted his own experience, which began with a simple $10 bet during college and quickly escalated into a destructive pattern of addiction. He noted that increased access to gambling significantly raises the risk of addiction, adding that online platforms have made gambling more and more accessible.  

National surveys reveal that gambling among young men, particularly sports betting, is on the rise compared to the general population."The topic of gambling addiction should be given the same level of attention and discussion as other important wellness topics, such as substance use prevention, sex education, relationships, and mental health awareness," said Director of Health and Wellness Hope Rupley.  

Now five years abstinent, Mr. Malek has made it his mission to educate others about the risks of gambling, drawing from his experiences featured in the New York Times and on the Dr. Phil Show.

In addition to his student presentation, Mr. Malek also conducted a separate session with parents and guardians to raise awareness about youth gambling. His visit was a part of the Belmont Hill Speaker Program. 

A man in a striped shirt is speaking into a microphone in front of an American flag backdrop.
The image shows a presentation or lecture taking place, with two individuals standing at a podium in front of an audience seated in the room.
The image shows a person standing at a podium in front of a large projection screen displaying the word %22RECOVERY%22 against a teal background, with an audience of people seated in front of the podium.
A young man in a striped polo shirt is standing at a podium and speaking into a microphone, with a wooden chair and a wall with a decorative emblem visible in the background.
A man is standing at a podium in front of a large projection screen displaying an image of another man.
An elderly man with glasses and a dark jacket stands at a podium, addressing a large audience of young people seated in rows behind him.
A large crowd of people, mostly young men in suits, are seated in a grand, ornate hall with a balcony and stage at the front.
Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Rupley, Mr. Malek, Ms. Schmunk

Recent News Stories

Upper Schoolers Shine in Fall Woodbury Speaking Contest
Upper Schoolers Shine in Fall Woodbury Speaking Contest

This year’s fall edition of the Woodbury Public Speaking Contest charmed the school community gathered in the Hamilton Chapel. Named for former Parents Association president Glen P. Woodbury, the Woodbury Public Speaking Prize was established in 1956 under the sponsorship of Belmont Hill’s literary magazine The Sextant. Open to any Upper Schooler, the Woodburys offer the boys the opportunity to write and deliver a speech on a topic of their choice, based on their personal experiences and interests.

Read More about Upper Schoolers Shine in Fall Woodbury Speaking Contest
Will Trautz ’27 Claims Fifth ISL Course Record
Will Trautz ’27 Claims Fifth ISL Course Record

As part of a dominant start to the season for Belmont Hill cross country, Will Trautz ’27 set a new course record at St. Mark’s on October 3, beating the closest competitor by 1 minute and 40 seconds. With a final time of 15:44, the performance broke the previous best time that had stood for 12 years and marked the fifth ISL course record of Will’s career. When combined with the four held by James Donahue ’22, Belmont Hill now holds nine of the sixteen course records in the league. 

Read More about Will Trautz ’27 Claims Fifth ISL Course Record