More than one-quarter of American adults will gamble on Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, Feb. 11, according to the American Gaming Association’s latest survey. More than $23 billion will be wagered on the single, largest gambling day in the United States. The survey of more than 2,200 adults with a 2 percent error margin showed the number of people gambling will increase by 35 percent from last year, totaling more than 67 million; and the amount wagered will increase more than $7 million
In Kentucky, Super Bowl LVIII will mark the first time legal bets can be placed on the game. “The newness of legal sports gambling in the state seems to be a novelty that some individuals are exploring,” Michael R. Stone, Executive Director, Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) said. “Whether the number of people gambling on sports remains high, stabilizes or shrinks remains to be seen, but the advent of sports gambling has resulted in a significant increase in calls to the 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) problem gambling helpline.”
Calls to the helpline doubled from August to October after Kentucky sports betting became legal in September. On average, about two people per day are calling, texting or chatting with the helpline staff seeking information on problem gambling or referral to Gamblers’ Anonymous or a certified gambler counselor. In January, for the first time callers identifying their preferred gambling activity cited sports betting, which replaced the long-time leaders in gambling preference: slot machines and lottery scratch-offs.
KYCPG points out that most of those who gamble have no adverse consequences; however, statistics indicate about 1 percent of the population (estimated by survey in Kentucky to be more than 60,000 individuals) are disordered gamblers as defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Another 3 percent are identified as problematic gamblers.
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Super Bowl and Problem Gambling
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Disordered gambling is when an individual continues to gamble in spite of recurring negative consequences. Disordered gambling impacts family, employment and personal relationships. Based on averages of academic estimates, KYCPG cites each disordered gambler costing society $9,000 in areas such as social service costs, crime and criminal justice expense, lost productivity, bankruptcy, and suicide.
KYCPG is not anti-gambling. Gambling is a personal decision, and it has been legalized in some form in 48 states. KYCPG does urge individuals to gamble responsibly. According to the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling, individuals can practice responsible gambling if they:
- Plan Ahead — Before the gamer begins, set your limits.
- Keep to the Limit — Monitor your spending, particularly if using an electronic device to place bets.
- Know What Can Afford to be Lost — Do not chase losses.
- Don’t Increase Wagering — That will not make the game more fun.
- Team Up — Partner with a friend to help each other stick with your plan.
- Take a Break — If gambling is no longer fun, stop.
If you or someone you know believes there is a gambling problem, please call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) at any time on any day. A trained telephone counselor located in Owensboro, Ky., will respond. Individuals also can visit. www.kygamblinghelp.org to learn more about disordered gambling and conduct a self-assessment to discern whether further help is needed to deal with a gambling issue. From the website, individuals can access a chat room at the helpline as another option for assistance.
Gambling can be addictive. When gambling becomes more than a game, there is help. If you recognize or realize a gambling problem exists, reach out for help. Now.
