NFL, Sportsbooks Face Lawsuit Over Micro-Betting Addiction

Gambling,

Two Pennsylvania men have sued NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel, and other sportsbooks over the harm from gambling addiction and in-game micro-bets.

Nationwide, sports betting is now legal in 39 states, and in Arkansas people wagered an average of nearly $1.8 million on it every day last year. But a growing body of evidence shows sports betting is harmful. Internet sportsbooks and online gambling are especially destructive.

One problem is that many sportsbooks accept micro-bet wagers — such as bets placed on the next play, next pitch, or next possession during a ballgame.

Micro-bets are designed to be fast-paced and repetitive, both of which are linked to problem gambling and addiction.

Pennsylvania plaintiffs Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson allege in their lawsuit that they developed gambling addictions after DraftKings and FanDuel began offering micro-bets.

The sportsbooks also allegedly assigned each man a personal “VIP Host” who enticed them to continue gambling.

We have written again and again about the dangers of internet sports betting.

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.

There is strong evidence linking sports betting to increases in binge drinking as well as physical and mental harm.

Researchers also say legal sports betting is tied to sharp increases in violent crime.

Arkansans need to understand that sports betting isn’t harmless entertainment — it’s predatory, and it is expanding in our state.

In February, the Arkansas Racing Commission approved sports betting license applications by FanDuel and DraftKings. DraftKings reportedly will partner with Southland Casino in West Memphis, and FanDuel will partner with Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs.

As this lawsuit highlights, sports betting fosters addiction, and it is linked to serious problems that hurt individuals, families, and whole communities.

As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect its citizens and families from predatory gambling.

Otherwise gambling addiction will simply 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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Former Basketball Players Fail to Cooperate with Sports Betting Investigation: NCAA

Gambling,

Earlier this month, the NCAA reported two former North Carolina A&T men’s basketball players did not cooperate with an investigation into potential sports betting violations — meaning the athletes are now ineligible to play. The NCAA notes that both men are no longer members of the school’s basketball program and are not currently competing in NCAA sports.

We have written before about how sports betting corrupts athletic programs and puts student-athletes at risk of harassment and bribery.

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

When gambling is introduced, fans have a financial stake in the game, and athletes have an incentive to change how they play. Officials may be tempted to cheat, and fans forget why they enjoyed sports in the first place. All of that is a problem.

The NCAA has opened investigations into dozens of student-athletes at multiple schools over the past couple of years. Players allegedly conspire to help each other win bets by underperforming in games.

Federal prosecutors recently announced indictments against 26 people in connection with an alleged bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix NCAA basketball games. One of the defendants has plead guilty to bribery and wire fraud in that case.

Sports betting is now legal in more than 30 states, and Arkansans wagered an average of nearly $1.8 million on it every day last year. That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

In February, the Arkansas Racing Commission approved sportsbook license applications by FanDuel and DraftKings — meaning the state will likely see more sports betting in the months to come.

Sports betting promises entertainment and easy money, but it isn’t a harmless pastime. As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect its citizens and families from predatory gambling. Otherwise, problem gambling will simply hurt more and more 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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