The Wins and Losses of this Popular Pastime
Las Vegas and Atlantic City have been the home for legalized gambling for years. Gambling has become a very popular hobby in places that it never used to be, such as in people’s homes. Online sports betting has spread like wildfire. Many industry analysts say the numbers skyrocketed over the last five years.
In 2018, there were only seven states in the country that allowed sports betting of any type. Now, in 2023, the number has jumped to 38. Why the sharp increase? The biggest and most obvious reason is money. Legalizing sports gambling has allowed companies such as DraftKings, Caesars, Barstool Sports, etc. to thrive. They are making a profit on every player’s loss.
New York is one of those 38 states that have gone through with the decision to legalize sports gambling. However, not every politician agrees with the decision. “I am not in favor of anything that is going to create something that requires addictive services,” said NYS Senator Alexis Weik, representative of the Eighth District. “Online gambling is an easy way to do it from your couch, when normally you would have to get up and go somewhere.”
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Mental health professionals have been studying gambling addiction behaviors for many years. Several studies show that a specific gender is more susceptible to gambling. “Men are slightly more likely to have gambling problems than women,” said Peter Smith, a psychiatric nurse practitioner. “Men seem to be drawn more towards strategic forms of gambling whereas women seem to prefer things like bingo or slot machines. So the legalization of sports gambling has a chance to increase rates of gambling for men more than women.”
When it comes to age, Smith said, “There are higher rates of problematic gambling in the younger population. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain right behind the eyes, for high school and college students isn’t fully grown until age 24 or 25. That’s why adolescents tend to make such stupid decisions sometimes.”
However, some people believe that there is a positive side to gambling. Proponents say the practice generates jobs and may even help unemployment rates in the U.S. With sports gambling becoming legalized, this also provides a new type of content for programs, such as Sports Grid TV. The channel covers all things sports betting, giving advice, discussing lines, and suggesting prop bets.
“We want to analyze sports, provide breaking news stories, and use the gambling odds to navigate that conversation,” said Andrew Bacigalupo, a producer at Sports Grid TV. “We bring on different resources, such as beat reporters, to break down lines. Our goal is to try and provide the winning edge and make people smarter gamblers.”
Those who work in this area say it brings some exciting opportunities. “I was fortunate enough to go to Super Bowl LVII with the company,” said Sam Yarnell, a producer and editor at Sports Grid TV. “That was the experience of a lifetime. Talking about gambling with legends of the game, both former and current, was really cool.”
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The legalization of sports betting has also allowed states to benefit from the activity. Yarnell says he believes people are going to find ways to gamble anyway, so why not use the revenue to help states. “Ever since New York legalized sports gambling in January of 2022, state revenue has gone through the roof,” said Yarnell. “States with high taxes allow their taxpayers to reap the benefits of legalized sports gambling, due to the fact that these sportsbooks are getting taxed at incredibly high numbers. This gives these states the chance to improve things like infrastructure throughout the state, state-run programs, and even education.”
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There’s a fine line that these companies have to walk as they try to balance self-promotion and profits. In addition, Bacigalupo says they want to ensure that they’re not the cause of addiction.
“In the programming that we have, we always advocate that if you have a gambling problem there are always people you can reach out to,” Bacigalupo said. “It is definitely tough. 24/7 we’re producing gambling content and with the resources we have, you have to be tempted but it’s a lot of self control and self management. If you can’t afford it, then you shouldn’t be betting and we advocate that all the time.”
The debate over the benefits and drawbacks of sports gambling will continue. No one can give their perspective better than the gamblers themselves. In my next article, several online bettors tell their stories of what it’s like to bet their luck.
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Online Bettors Share their Personal Stories
According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there were more than 21.5 million people who suffered from a gambling or alcohol addiction in 2014. That was a time when gambling was not legal in most states in the U.S. Mental health professionals say, gambling is one of the eight most common behavioral addictions a person can have. They say the excitement of risking money on an intense sporting event is something that many individuals crave.
Anthony Geremiah is a 55 year old man from Oceanside, New York. He started gambling at the age of 24 and said he has been hooked ever since. He currently works as an accountant. “I won my first bet and thought it was so great,” said Geremiah. “I thought to myself that no one knows more about baseball than me, so it would be easy money, little did I know, the trap-ins of gambling.”
For years, when sports gambling was illegal in most states, some Americans were gambling via illegal sportsbooks. Individuals would create online platforms and execute a gambling structure led by a bookie. “Betting with a bookie can lead to trouble,” said Geremiah. “A lot of times, they’ll give you an account and they don’t set a limit. So, you can just keep gambling and use all the credit without paying the money right away.”
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On March 18th, 2023, local news outlet, Newsday, discussed the effects of online gambling and its tweet garnered much attention.
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Joe Treusch, a retired corrections officer who is 54 years old, was born and raised in West Babylon, New York. He said he has been gambling for almost 30 years. Treusch said the hardest part about being a sports gambler is knowing where to draw the line between just placing a couple of small bets for fun and risking everything you have. “It’s definitely something that can come across as exciting,” said Treusch. “You don’t, however, want to ever open the possibility of getting hurt. Especially like someone like myself who’s a little older, you have responsibilities like paying bills and taking care of your family.”
Treusch also said that the exciting part of gambling is being able to watch and root for the team you are betting on. It is risky behavior when you are placing bets on sports that you are not knowledgeable on or a game you are not paying attention to, according to Treusch. “When people start betting on games that they’re not even watching, that’s where it gets a little crazy,” said Treusch. “I only sit and watch the local teams that I’m familiar with and it can make it more interesting when I’m relaxing on the couch.”
Even though sports betting has been around well before it was legalized, many psychiatrists say the younger generation has been more susceptible to becoming addicted to online gambling platforms.
Brenden Reese is a 22-year-old college student who is set to graduate from SUNY Geneseo this year. He has been gambling for a few years now but has really gotten more involved since the legalization in New York in January of 2022. “I’ve had to fight myself multiple times to keep myself from getting too in deep,” said Reese. “As a college student, I don’t have a great income so it’s important that I balance myself and avoid losing all the money I have, which is easy to do when you don’t have a lot of it.”
Reese also mentioned that a lot of people his age don’t have enough experience to bet. “I have only been doing this for a short time and I act like I know what I’m doing, when most of the time I probably don’t. That’s what makes it so dangerous.”
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According to ..., the amount of money wagered on the Super Bowl in the United States increased between 1991-2011. Over the last ten years, the betting saw a sharp rise, nearly doubling, due in large part to legalization.
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For people who have experienced negative consequences because of gambling, Geremiah believes that online bettors can still turn their lives around. “Use the resources that these sportsbooks are providing,” said Geremiah. “They give out phone numbers that you can call for assistance. There are limits you can set on your account that these apps will hold you to, so things like that can make the difference for some people.” Just like any other addiction, such as smoking or drinking, Geremiah said that it is hard to quit. “Let me tell you, it’s not an easy thing to do. It’s all in your head, but you just have to gain that strength to admit to yourself that you’re gambling away more than what you can afford to lose.”
Treusch said, “You shouldn’t be stressed watching a game that you bet on. Do it when you’re just looking to enjoy yourself, knowing that the result is not going to affect you in a seriously negative way.”
If you believe that you have a problem with gambling, seek a mental health professional or call the confidential National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER or the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) NYS HOPELINE at 1-877-8-HOPENY.
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ABOUT ME
I'm Niko Scarlatos, a graduate student at Hofstra University, earning my Master of Arts degree in Journalism. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at Ashland University in Ohio. Since then, I have worked for multiple media companies, including Cox Media Group and Audacy.
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