Category: Gambling

High Stakes, Higher Costs: The Toll of Sports Betting

Sports betting is now legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people wager more than a million dollars a day, on average.

Sports betting often relies on mobile gambling, which is closely associated with problem gambling. Experts now warn that gambling addiction has surged in the wake of sports betting’s legalization.

Below are a few of the ways sports betting — and the gambling problems tied to it — takes a toll on individuals, families, and communities.

The Financial Toll

Sports betting and internet gambling are connected to serious financial problems — including deep debt, missed bills, and bankruptcy.

Mobile sports betting makes it possible for people to place bets during sporting events from practically anywhere. The average sports betting addict using mobile apps accumulates nearly $28,000 in gambling-related debt before seeking help.

These financial strains affect more than just individuals. They hurt families and communities as a whole.​

The Mental and Emotional Toll

Sports betting is linked to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems — especially among teens and young adults. Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines.

One in four sports bettors worry that they cannot control their gambling.

Research also shows that individuals with gambling disorders experience impaired decision-making and impulsivity — all of which contribute to poor mental health.

The Toll on Athletic Programs

Sports betting undermines the integrity of sports. The NCAA has wrestled with gambling scandals since sports betting’s legalization. Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, and other sports leagues have as well.

The Toll on Families

All of this takes a toll on families.

Sports betting and problem gambling place serious strains on families and have been linked to increased risk of divorce and domestic violence.

Conclusion

Legalized gambling has become a blight in Arkansas. Tax revenue from casinos and sports betting has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. And unless Arkansas’ lawmakers and its people take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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NCAA Announcements Draw Attention to Sports Betting Violations

Last month, the NCAA issued a press release announcing it is in the process of addressing alleged sports betting violations by 13 men’s basketball players.

The allegations center on student-athletes betting for and against their own teams, sharing information for sports betting purposes, manipulating scores or game outcomes, and refusing to cooperate with investigators.

The NCAA is careful to point out that none of the players are still enrolled in the schools where the sports betting violations allegedly occurred.

In a separate statement issued last month, the NCAA revealed that three men’s basketball players colluded to win bets that they placed on one another.

Unfortunately, stories like these are not surprising.

We have written before about how sports betting corrupts athletics.

The national experiment with sports gambling has been a disaster for individuals and families, but it is also undermining athletic programs nationwide.

Sports betting is now legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people wager more than a million dollars a day, on average. That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

Studies indicate people who gamble on sports may be twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

Young men are particularly hurt by sports gambling. Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines, and upwards of 20 million men are in debt or have been in debt as a result of sports betting.

And research now shows that the legalization of sports betting may be linked to serious financial problems in America — such as credit card debt, overdrafts, late payments on loans, lower credit scores, and higher bankruptcy rates.

Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by sports betting.

As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect citizens and families from predatory gambling. Otherwise, gambling addiction will simply continue hurting innocent people in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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