The capper to the biggest and longest football season ever comes this Sunday when the NFL will crown its new champion (or maybe it will be the same old champion). This event comes right on the heels of our local Buckeyes winning the first-ever 12-team college football playoff.
While both games are exciting and fun for many, not everyone walked away a winner. I saw first-hand how the extra playoff games may have touched off more joy for fans, while also causing more problems for some.
And now comes the biggest sports betting week of the year.
How big is big, you ask? Two years ago, right after legal sports betting was allowed here in Ohio, more than 50 million Americans bet on the big game. That record was easily shattered last year, with roughly 68 million placing wagers of some kind. It’s a safe bet that we will experience another massive increase for Super Bowl LIX.
As I mentioned in a recent TV interview, “Vegas wasn’t built on winners.” We know that most people can gamble without issue—but not everyone. And as more people find gambling accessible, acceptable, and appealing, more people need help untangling from their need to gamble.
As I noted last year at this time, the 24/7 access to sports betting clearly plays a huge role in exacerbating the issue. “How much you spend matters, but so does the amount of time you spend on the activity. Also, do you feel a need to make more bets or bigger bets to enjoy the game? If you can’t set a budget and or adhere to a time limit, it’s worth reaching out to talk.”
Over the past year I have seen more and more people under the age of 26 coming in for services due to sports betting. This is also reflective in the Gamblers Anonymous rooms across the country.
Many in this demographic rely on their parents in some way for financial relief, some even moving back home. Obviously, this causes a lot of financial and familial pressure, especially on those who may not be ready to seek help and still may believe that sports betting will fix all their financial problems.
Helping both the gambler and their parents and/or other loved ones navigate this transition is one of the reasons we started monthly community education groups, in addition to weekly group therapy and individual options, along with our family-specific options.
No matter your age, ultimately this week and on Sunday, it comes down to having a plan and sticking to it. And for those who can’t, or might need a little more assistance, our team stands at the ready.
If you or a loved one needs to better understand your limits, contact Maryhaven online here or call us at 614-324-5425.
