It starts out small. Of course Saquon will rush for 100. Burrow is sure to have 300 passing yards. Myles Garret is basically guaranteed a sack tonight. But none of that happened, and now you’re out $50. Desperate to redeem yourself, another parlay is set for this upcoming Sunday. But again failure puts you deeper into the hole.
It should be no surprise that major sports leagues are encouraging sports betting. They are profiting from it. Their goal isn’t to help others get rich, they want to make money. Casual sports fans are now watching multiple games at once, paying attention to players from several different teams. And your money is going straight into the pockets of these gambling companies. The apps are not working alone, however. Endorsements from people teenagers look up to such as professional athletes and celebrities encourage the use of these apps. Even companies such as ESPN have begun to take charge of sportsbooks.
Unfortunately, sports culture has begun to revolve around gambling. It is no longer necessary to travel to Las Vegas to make a sports wager – it can now be done from your own couch. Placing a bet is now as easy as clicking a few buttons. Gambling companies do not care about the users of their app. They are relying on the consumers to be unaware and uneducated.
Though, when the parlay inevitably doesn’t hit, issues begin to rise to the surface. A study done by the National Institute of Health shows that 10-14% of adolescents are at risk for developing a gambling problem. And according to the NCAA, one in three top-level collegiate athletes receive hateful messages relating to sports betting. Besides that, users begin to chase their losses. This leads to investing even more money in hopes of getting it all back. The cycle continues with another loss, pushing people closer to an addiction. But sports culture hasn’t always been this way. The dopamine release that comes from gambling has created a toxic environment in the sporting world. Fans need to refind the true love of the sport, and understand how the behavior of bettors is affecting the players they enjoy watching.
Sports gambling is an impossible game to win. Critics can place the blame on the hundreds of sports betting apps, but they won’t be going away any time soon. Betting on a favorite sports team might feel like a fun way to get involved, but this cannot be something that people blindly participate in. Find a balance and set limitations on how often you play. Understand that the companies you are engaging with are only concerned with the contents of your wallet.
