NCPG offers sports bettors advice ahead of Super Bowl

Wagering will be legal in 30 states plus DC, Puerto Rico this year.

Thanks to a rapid expansion of gambling in the United States over the past three years, some 30 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico currently offer some form of legal sports betting.

With that backdrop, and with Super Bowl LVI set to kick off this Sunday featuring the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams, the National Council on Problem Gambling on Friday issued a caution: “If You Bet, Know Your Limits,” and offered resources for those seeking help.

The NCPG cited estimates that more than 31m people plan to place a sports wager on the Big Game, including PlayUSA’s projection of more than $1bn in total bets.

The second National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences (NGAGE 2.0), a survey created by the NCPG in 2018, has identified what the group described as a “significant increase” in problematic gambling activity from 2018 to 2021.

According to the organization, “problematic play” was found to be especially prevalent among two at-risk groups: sports bettors including those who play daily fantasy sports, and younger gamblers (ages 18 to 44).

According to the NCPG, the study also indicated that almost two-thirds of Americans, or 220m people, do not know where to get help for a gambling problem. The organization defines “problem gambling” or “gambling addiction” as including all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. The symptoms include increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, “chasing” losses, and loss of control manifested by the continuation of gambling behavior despite negative consequences. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide, the Council said.

The NCPG acknowledged most adults, gambling can be a “fun and entertaining experience,” but said there are risks involved. It offered a series of tips intended to help keep gambling fun. These include: understand the odds and house edge, set limits of time and money, know and respect tolerance for risk, never borrow money to gamble, don’t gamble money you can’t afford to lose, never chase losses, and, treat gambling as a form of entertainment and not a way to make money.

“The trends we are seeing around sports gambling and problematic play are very concerning,” Keith Whyte, Executive Director of NCPG, said in a statement. “Too many people still don’t recognize they are exhibiting signs of this addictive behavior and are unaware of the help that is available to them. Every organization that provides gambling opportunities has a responsibility to develop policies and programs to promote responsible gambling and address problem gambling.”

Michael Bartlett

Visit Profile

Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.