Experts warn about gambling addiction ahead of WM Phoenix Open and Super Bowl
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — According to the American Gaming Association, nearly 68 million people will bet on the Super Bowl this Sunday. It is projected to be a record-breaking year for Super Bowl wagers, and that doesn’t include the number of fans betting on their PGA favorites at the WM Phoenix Open in Scottsdale.
With both major sporting events happening in one weekend, experts are warning folks to be careful when placing their bets.
According to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, 2% to 5% of people who engage in gambling have a gambling addiction. Dr. Holly Geyer, an addiction medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic, emphasizes not trusting lady luck because anyone can fall down this slippery slope. “Anyone can develop long-term dependency and addiction to gambling. We call that ‘pathological gambling,’ and it has to do with the way the brain changes over time with exposure,” she explained.
Dr. Geyer said knowing your limits is important whether you’re betting in person or from your phone. She says a good rule of thumb to remember is the ‘4 C’s’.
The 4 C’s:
- Cravings: constantly thinking about gambling
- Control: loss of ability to stop when you want to
- Compulsion: you’re doing it over and over again
- Consequences: you’re losing too much money or you’re in debt
If you are experiencing a pattern of one of the following, Dr. Geyer said it’s a sign to seek help.
Arizona is one of 38 states that have legalized sports betting. With more onsite sportsbooks, like Draft Kings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale, opening up and more sports betting apps being developed, Rick Benson, who owns Algamus Gambling Addiction Treatment Services in Goodyear, said his facility is seeing a new trend of gamblers.
“What we are seeing now are gamblers who are, many of whom are 18 to 30 years old, they’re gambling devices, their casino, their sportsbook is their smartphone, and they are in some instances just as addicted to their smartphone as they are to the gambling,” he explained.
Benson, who is also a recovering gambling addict, said major sporting events are the biggest time when folks open themselves up to the chase of not just winning but winning big.
However, whether you have an addiction or not, Benson said the Super Bowl is a triggering holiday in general. “Many gamblers who are stuck right now, meaning they’re behind right now that they’ve lost money. As a football gambler, the last opportunity to bail out of that is Super Bowl Sunday,” he said.
If you plan on betting on your favorite team or player, Benson and Dr. Geyer advise you to bet in moderation and to keep you and your loved ones accountable.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
