As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been around and seen more people participating in sports gambling and betting. While I don’t think betting is an inherently bad thing, I see how incredibly damaging and addictive it has become in recent times.

First, it’s important to know that gambling triggers the brain’s reward system, similar to the way substances do. Like substances, gambling can cause feelings of euphoria, dependence or other mental effects, which can lead to addiction.

The constant promotion of gambling in our media doesn’t help the situation either. No matter what sport you’re watching, you are likely to see an ad for a sports betting service, such as FanDuel or BetMGM, during a commercial break. Even when the commercials are off, you are constantly bombarded with sports gambling company partnerships and see their logos plastered everywhere. 

This constant bombardment from sports broadcasting only increases the number of people who see gambling content. It also increases the amount of children exposed to gambling, possibly inspiring them to partake. This could lead to an increase in the already high number of illegal gamblers. This eventually extends to school campuses, highlighting a reason why 60% of students have gambled illegally and one in five students have gambled using financial aid support.

The close ties between sports leagues and betting companies have also led to fans harassing athletes and their families. Athletes like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Danny Green have all spoken out against sports betting. Not only have professional athletes been affected, but semi-professionals, like student-athletes, have also been victims of insensitive gamblers. North Carolina men’s basketball player Armando Bacot also spoke up about betting-related harassment via direct messages on social media. 

Besides an extremely low chance to “hit big,” sports gambling doesn’t have many benefits and shouldn’t be as heavily advertised as it is now. Sports companies should seek to use their influence to promote more healthy outlets for their consumers to express their love for the sport rather than an addictive habit.

Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090

Campus Ministry, 610-660-1030

The Office of Student Outreach & Support, 610-660-1149

The Jesuit community, 610-660-1400

Employee Assistance Program, 866-799-2728

Gamblers Anonymous, 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)