Sports Gambling Is Truly Bad

Have you ever thought about calling 1–800-GAMBLER just to find out what they say?

It can’t just be me. I’m genuinely curious, but don’t want to be put into some kind of directory that has proof I have a gambling problem. I’m kind of scared to dial the number.

But let’s be real.

Between you and me…

I have a gambling problem.

It feels good to just admit it.

I’m 36 years old and have been gambling on sports (and other things) in some capacity since college, and it’s not really something that is working out in my favor.

Here’s the thing. I want more money, no matter how much money I have, and will take risks to try and get it. That has been true my entire life, and I’m not the only one. I think a LOT of people have a gambling problem. Heck, some people make their gambling problem their entire personality.

Stocks. Crypto. Meme coins. NFTs. Collectibles. Straight Bets. Futures. Parlays. Same Game Parlays. Fantasy Sports. Daily Fantasy Sports. Best Ball Contests. Pick ’Em Contests. They’re all gambling in some capacity, whether directly or indirectly, obviously or cleverly disguised.

I’ve done them all, and they’re so fucking easy to participate in, and there are literally millions of people participating in them every week — but for me, sports gambling is really “the problem.” Because I love watching sports, and I have just created this relationship, over time, slowly but surely, where I love them even more if I have some juice on the action.

Losing money. Winning money. Losing money. Losing money. Losing money. I thought I had it under control, but truthfully, I don’t think I do, and it’s time to admit it. I can afford what I am losing, but I would much rather not lose!

America is a country filled with, and built by, addicts. Cigarettes, alcohol, pills, drugs, shopping, social media, gambling — all vices that start in some capacity and eventually spiral beyond their control. It’s a tale as old as time.

So while gambling on sports is really bad for me, and something I’m going to stop — capital g Gambling is really, truly, bad. The legalization and accessibility of sports gambling is really, truly, bad.

Sports gambling is now legal in 48 states, and being shoved down our throats at every turn. You cannot watch sports today without gambling being absolutely thrown in your face.

There was over $98 BILLION dollars gambled on sports in the United States in 2023.

The total number of people gambling on sports in the United States has increased year over year, every year, for the past 6 years — along with the total amount gambled and the average amount gambled.

Call 1–800-GAMBLER if you have a problem is the equivalent of a “Cigarettes cause cancer” sticker on a pack of Marlboros, displayed in the tiniest font at the bottom of a screen as your favorite hosts shill you same game parlays and prop bets on a nationally televised broadcast.

And listen, from one gambler to another, let’s be real about one thing — NFTs and crypto are way better things to gamble on than sports — if you need to get your fix somewhere. You can make more, you have more control or influence over the outcome, and you can always exit the position or trade with a small (or not so small) loss rather than losing everything. The problem with sports gambling, in the most basic sense — beyond literally having no control over the outcome — is that you win or you lose. The money goes in, and usually, the money does not come back.

I’ve hit big parlays, and I’ve lost parlays. I hit futures bets on the Giants winning both of their Super Bowls over the Patriots, and I’ve lost futures bets. I’ve given and received envelopes filled with hundred dollar bills to strangers on the corner of a sidewalk. At the end of the day, most people will end up losing more than winning if you bet often enough and for long enough, and the occasional big win — how it feels, how easy it seems — is that nagging reminder of what’s possible and how much upside could exist.

Winning more isn’t the solution to my personal problem, but in the big picture, I’m truly concerned about the impact that sports gambling is going to have on boys and men around the country over the next 3–5–10 years.

With some quick research, I’ve learned that the number of calls to 1–800-GAMBLER is going up by 200% to 300% per month in pretty much every state that has legalized gambling.

60–80% of people who gamble lose. Very smart people, and designers, and programmers, are getting paid very large amounts of money to guarantee that you keep betting until you lose money. Because gambling is really addictive. And easy. And fun. And painful. And heartbreaking.

The state-by-state revenues on legalized sports gambling are generating far greater returns than projected, meaning citizens are gambling way more than expected, and the companies empowering that are making way more than expected.

Gambling has always existed, but it used to be discreet and dirty. Now it’s like Coca Cola and McDonalds.

They are literally advertising bets at us, aggressively and often, every single time we watch sports. Guess what? Advertising works!

I don’t know, man. All I know is that I want to gamble less and I need to gamble less.

I want my relationship to sports to be decoupled from a financial interest in the outcome of the game.

I want to enjoy watching a game without the over and under and player props being discussed so blatantly and openly by announcers and analysts.

Maybe you are really good at gambling and win money often.

Maybe you are able to gamble such small amounts that it really doesn’t matter.

Maybe you have a problem but don’t want to think it’s a problem.

Maybe your sports gambling spreadsheets and formulas and algorithms are fucking magical and just print you money.

Maybe you have a problem but could never admit you have a problem and me admitting I have a problem is helping you in some way.

This is only the start. Sports gambling is not going to go away. People are going to ruin their fucking lives betting on sports as the purity and wholesomeness of the game is slowly corroded by the financial interests of Big Gambling.

Enjoy the NFL Playoffs! I’m going to try.