My mentor and former colleague Bruce Jones often taught that how you asked a question made all the difference.

For example, “Do you gamble?” usually yields a different answer than “Do you ever bet?”

Bruce understood that people are more willing to admit engaging in certain behaviors, if there’s isn’t any sort of negative connotation associated with those choices.

I thought of this concept recently when facilitating a group session with people concerned about their gambling. We began wrestling with an interesting question, one that was debated endlessly when Ohio and other states approved daily fantasy as a “game of skill” (shortly before legalizing sports betting): Should fantasy sports be classified as gambling?

Many concluded that fantasy and daily fantasy sports were not gambling. But is this another example of asking the wrong question? In 2024, does that classification question really matter anymore?

The platforms used for daily fantasy sports are now the very same as those offering online sports betting. Not only do you engage with the same app, in many cases the app curates your bets based on your daily fantasy roster (“You picked Joe Burrow, how about these odds on the Bengals to win today?”).

These types of cross-platform algorithms work. It’s no wonder that in 2022, 81% of those who participated in fantasy sports also bet on sports. And that percentage will likely continue climbing as betting platforms become even more readily available.

The fantasy sports market size is massive with estimated revenues of $32.75 billion in 2024 increasing to as much as $62.58 billion by 2029 – essentially doubling over the next five years! And, as we discussed recently, it’s almost all because of football.

Now, if you want to distinguish between a bragging rights season-long fantasy football league with high school or college friends and high-stakes daily fantasy contests, it’s clear there are different “levels” of engagement with fantasy football.

But no matter how you describe it, the 81% stat above cuts to the chase. Very few folks just play fantasy sports without dabbling in gambling.

And, remember, not everyone can enjoy in moderation. This is particularly true in fantasy and sports betting, where the images of a huge (yet unexpected) payout can dance in your head.

Regardless of how you prefer the question to be worded, don’t ignore the real answer.

Need to talk? 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.