In Ohio, we’ve long known that there are two sports seasons: Football season and Football off-season.
Sports betting has now been legal for two years in Ohio – and longer than that in surrounding states – and our experience is verifying that sports betting seasons echo the football adage. It’s all about football.
There are a few exceptions. One of the biggest records broken during the Summer Olympics was the amount of money wagered. This reality reminds us to be cautious about our collective tendency to overdo it year-round. But no betting rivals football betting based upon several of our local clients and, more broadly, as evidenced by the chart from Civic Science below.
Paying attention to moments of collective vulnerability is important for people who are at risk of problem gambling. Like all forms of addictive behavior, people should try to act before a crisis worsens. The longer someone waits to confront the issue, the higher the likelihood of things like depression, bankruptcy, theft, divorce and even suicide. There are no physical symptoms of a gambling addiction, so it’s these major crises that result. Plus, a new study prior to the Olympics from UCLA and USC, reveals that bankruptcies are up 28% in U.S. states with legalized online sports betting.
That’s why I’m heartened by the fact that folks are reaching out now, to ensure they’re on the best path when the games kick off this fall. And, if you or a loved one aren’t sure what you need, consider our gambling screening questions, online here or below:
- In the past year, have you been preoccupied with gambling?
- Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
- Have you often gambled longer, with more money, or more frequently than you intended to?
- Have you made attempts to cut down, control or stop gambling?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
If you or someone you love answers “yes” to any of these questions, it’s worth having an initial conversation. Our team of experts at Maryhaven are here for you or a loved one, via phone (614-324-5425) or web (https://maryhaven.com/gambling/contact/), whether it be asking a simple question or needing initial resources, all the way to treatment options.
