February into March is the biggest time of the year for American sports fans of all ages. With the NFL season’s finish in the climactic Superbowl to college basketball’s March Madness launch right around the corner, it is a time for upsets, cheering, and sometimes tears as favorite teams win or lose in dramatic fashion. Unfortunately, this time of excitement is also shadowed by the potential for loss, namely in the most normalized form of gambling: online sports betting.
Every major online betting platform, from Caesers to FanDuel, promoted betting on the Big Game, with several offering “bonus bets” to encourage additional spending. In addition to bets on the outcome of the game, such as touchdowns scored or yards ran, some platforms outside the United States offer odds on things like the color of sports drink dumped on the winning team’s coach or the length of the National Anthem performance. While these sound silly and harmless in theory, they are representative of the level to which gambling on sporting events has become ingrained into the culture.
The pinnacle of this integration is the fervor that comes along with March Madness brackets. Fans around the country will scramble to fill out their predictions, hoping their chosen future will come to pass. Unlike the Superbowl however, which is mainly patronized by online betting platforms, even major news outlets like CBS publish guides and suggestions for would-be gamblers. Each claim to have the “winning strategy,” based on data analytics gathered over whole seasons and insider tips gleaned from careful study of these college athletes. However, each basketball game is an individual event, one which the better has no control over, which they are wagering their money on despite the uncertain outcome; this is, of course, the purest definition of gambling.
The Illusion of Control is a logical fallacy common in gambling situations. It states that the individual believes that they have an increased level of control over events than they actually do, due to certain strategies, or a belief that they have “figured out” how the game works and that they can exploit that, despite the fact that their belief is the thing being exploited. Fallacies like this can lead to more impulsive behavior, which in turn runs the risk of greater losses and bigger bets to win them back. Chasing losses is another behavior which may indicate a problem.
This impulsiveness is perhaps best represented by one of the more at-risk populations among gamblers: young adults. With the rise of these online gambling platforms, access has become easier than ever. Walking into a casino may pose a problem to someone underage, but an internet-connected cellphone is the only ticket needed to start placing bets. Teenagers, already prone to circumventing age restrictions, are certainly capable of utilizing these sports betting sites intended for older audiences, and that poses a major risk for the development of problem gambling behaviors.
Studies show that early introduction to gambling primes young adults to seek out gambling as they grow older. Their brains are not fully developed yet, especially their frontal lobe which handles decision-making and exercising judgment, which makes the kind of impulsive behavior which leads to problem gambling even more likely. With advertisements for these platforms conveying feelings of excitement and promises of big wins, it’s easy to see why teens are so susceptible to their influence. With the NFL sponsored by many of these platforms, and with major news outlets promoting their formula for a perfect bracket, even those with a casual interest may find themselves sucked in by advertising.
Ease of access and prominent marketing make for a potent combination, and sports gambling, including by underage teens, has been on a steady rise since online sports betting was legalized in 2018. As such, it has become increasingly important for parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with gambling in all its forms, even if they don’t gamble themselves (though having a parent who gambles do increase the risk of a child developing problem gambling behaviors). Make sure to include the following in the discussion:
- Do not wager more than you can afford: Anyone under the age of 18 should not be utilizing any online platforms for gambling, so the amount for them should be zero. If they are insistent on wagering on games among their friends, non-monetary alternatives are a way to keep them involved while placing less risk on them. For those who are over 18, it is important to set limits and not exceed them.
- Be accountable to friends or family: By making friends or family members aware of any bets or gambling activities, it ensures that they can help you keep to any limits. Having additional people to keep you on track can help to maintain gambling as a safe activity, rather than one that develops into a problem.
- There is no “strategy,” and there isn’t a way to control the outcome: No one has any ability to control the outcome of any game, and no “strategy” can perfectly anticipate every potential result. No matter what is implemented, the results are ultimately down to chance. Guidance, even from “reputable” sources, is only a series of suggestions, and not a surefire way to win.
- Learn to accept losses, rather than chase them: Chasing losses, or continuing to make bets to try to “win back” money that has been taken by losing bets, is a sure way to end up losing more, especially if your bet size continues to increase to try to compensate for the losses. Remember, set your limits and stick to them.
- Marketing does not give you the full picture: Every commercial will promise an “easy win,” with a small investment leading to a huge payoff. These are never realistic; the overwhelming majority of people will never achieve these kinds of results, and the chances of them happening are extremely small. Trust your gut: when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!
Online sports betting continues to grow every year, and partnerships with the NFL and with major news outlets like CBS ensure that they will continue to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. With young adults being particularly susceptible to this kind of marketing, it is imperative that we continue the dialogue around these issues and find ways to minimize the risk of harm as much as possible. By working together, we can ensure that any wagers we choose to make, ones backed by knowledge and understanding of risk factors, can remain friendly.
By Joshua Mass
Problem Gambling Coordinator at Family & Children’s Association
-If you or someone you know needs help, please contact FCA at 516-935-6858 Ext. 4378
