It’s the thrill. Weekly allowances are being bet for the chance of striking it big by rolling dice. Losing comes easy, making the sweet taste of victory all the sweeter.

It can seem innocent and even easy to do behind the backs of neglectful adults. However, starting this small hobby, which is played when there’s nothing better to do, can lead those who try it up a broken path.

Rings of students who play together are forming all around campus. They play whenever, during breaks, lunch, even in class and allow anyone to join the group as long as they have money.

According to one student gambler, the game can be won by rolling a 6, but rolling a 7 or 11 would cause someone to lose automatically. Students can bet anywhere from $1, to $5, or even $20.

If they lose all the money they have at the moment, they’re out. But many come back later, ready to try their luck again. “We just keep playing, thinking we can get our money back if we do.”

Money isn’t the only way people can play. One girl talkedabout her experience with gambling. She would see it in class when the teacher wassn’t paying attention or when there was a substitute. Fellow classmates and even friends would do it, not caring about any warnings.

“They always want to do it, even if they get in trouble,” the student said. “They don’t even care anymore.”

It didn’t really capture her interest until friends asked her to join, just to try it out. The game was fun to her and while the student doesn’t bet money, she plays with her friends when class becomes slow.

Another student could only watch as his group of friends deteriorated after getting into the game of gambling. They were no longer able to talk and hang out during lunch, and would instead gamble away dollar after dollar. He watched them get sucked into the game.

“People get addicted,” he said. “Even if they lose almost all their money, they’ll keep playing till they’re broke.”

The student also talked about a darker side to the popular game around campus. He talked about what he has seen while watching others play, the punishment of cheating or leaving on a high roll. If they were caught with trick dice or leaving when they’ve won most or all the money, the student could get beaten.

No matter the risks they take, the money they lose, or the trouble they could get in, the addicting feeling students get when they roll the dice keeps bringing them back.

“I don’t really care for whatever consequences,” said one student. “I’m still going to gamble for the fun of it.”

After the change in the state’s Education Code, students with dice get detention the first time and after that get suspended. Principal Andre Phillips said that the school must provide students with programs to help stop, but it’s up to the student to decide to go.

“(The school) goes through phases,” he said. “Now it’s dice. Then later it will be something else.”