FCI Staff Writer Sacramento 
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September 22, 2022,
Habits formed when young, good or bad, are extremely hard to break.
If you are a high school or college student, it is a good time to start thinking about habits that you want to keep.
As an example, many who played sports in high school or college find it is very desirable to keep working out as they age. It was a good habit they formed early.
Eating healthy foods, fruits, vegetables and plant based cuisine is another good habit to start early.
One habit that experts say young people in particular should avoid is gambling.
Today, there is a euphemism for gambling called Sports Betting.
Betting on team sports has become an important service industry in many countries.
Before the advent of the internet, millions of people played the football pools every week in the United Kingdom.
In addition to organized sports betting, both legal and illegal, there are many side-betting games played by casual groups of spectators, such as NCAA basketball tournament Bracket Pools, Super Bowl Squares, Fantasy Sports Leagues with monetary entry fees and winnings, and in-person spectator games like Moundball.
Participation in it is surging. Why? When did the big change begin?
As posted by Grid News, “The floodgates for the sports betting industry opened in May 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which since 1992 had made sports betting — on the professional and collegiate levels — illegal in the United States, outside of Nevada.”
Intriguing. Concerning.
They add BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings have spent over $160 million on campaigns in support of Proposition 27, which would legalize mobile sports betting in California.
The team at the legislative office lao.ca.gov inform, “Proposition 27 allows tribes or gambling companies to offer online sports betting. It requires tribes and gambling companies that offer online sports betting to make certain payments to the state for specific purposes—such as to support state regulatory costs and to address homelessness. The proposition also creates a new online sports betting regulatory unit. Finally, it provides new ways to reduce illegal online sports betting.”
If you watch the television ads, there appears to be a lot at stake.
The national Football League, which once publicly opposed betting on NFL games, has dramatically changed their position.
According to the American Gaming Association, “The NFL’s annual revenue may increase by $2.3 billion a year due to widely available, legal, regulated sports betting, according to new AGA research.”
The plus side of the gambling coin is that the gaming industry does create and support much needed jobs. Especially in the casino and hotel industry. Where would the economies of Reno and Las Vegas be without them?
We suppose an analogy could be made, there is a sense, like a disease, it was previously quarantined within certain regions. Now with the proliferation of sports betting, the virus has escaped and is spreading.
Virtually all viruses have side effects.
The team at psychguides.com explain, “Gambling is one of the most insidious of human vices, as it presents the illusion of easy money yet can quickly lead to financial ruin. The odds are never in your favor whether it is poker, blackjack or anything else; gambling is a successful industry because the house always wins.”
We’ve certainly heard that one before.
They add that once a gambling addiction takes hold, breaking the cycle is difficult. Severe addictions can take hold when someone feels desperate financially and wants to make back what they have lost. Once the person finally wins, while they may end up collecting a massive amount of money from that win, it is rarely enough to cover what has already been lost.
This is why, as a young person, you should really think about habits.
Is this a habit you would want to form?
Critics of gambling argue it leads to increased political corruption, compulsive gambling, and higher crime rates.
There appears to be another alarming side effect.
Link Between Problem Gambling and Suicide Highlighted During National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
News provided by
Sep 01, 2022, 12:15 ET
Ohio For Responsible Gambling has free resources to help Ohioans dealing with gambling addiction.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and experts say the suicide rate among those experiencing problem gambling is the highest of all addictions.
“There’s a strong connection between a person’s mental health and gambling activity,” said Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson, prevention chief, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. “For those living with gambling disorder, up to 38% will consider ending their lives.”
The 2017 Report on Problem Gambling Services shows that nearly one in ten Ohioans who gamble are currently experiencing or are at-risk of developing a gambling problem. That’s more than 900,000 Ohioans.
Derek Longmeier, executive director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, wants to make sure Ohioans understand the risks of problem gambling and educate themselves on setting limits, especially as Ohio is set to legalize sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023.
“The challenges of problem gambling and suicide go far beyond the person placing a bet,” he said. “Families, children, businesses, and schools all feel the loss and pain that comes with a person’s gambling addiction.”
Longmeier emphasizes the importance of early detection. Because problem gambling doesn’t have physical symptoms, he says it’s important for people to have a keen eye to issues like:
- Lying or hiding how much time and money is spent gambling
- Showing a sudden decrease in work performance
- Asking for loans or bailouts to get out of debt
- Using money for core expenses like food and rent for gambling
- Acting anxious or agitated
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves
- Having extreme mood swings
Anyone having suicidal thoughts should call the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Additionally, the Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-589-9966 or texting 4HOPE to 741741. Specialists can connect callers with treatment options in their area within 24 hours. Those wanting to learn more about problem gambling can visit www.beforeyoubet.org; it features a free online quiz to help people better understand if they have a potential problem with gambling and healthy tips to help keep playing responsibly.
Contact:
Sarah Irvin Clark
(614) 225-9100
sarah@irvinpr.com
SOURCE Ohio for Responsible Gambling
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OPENING PHOTO fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com Pixabay.com-photo
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=26&year=2022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States
https://www.psychguides.com/behavioral-disorders/gambling-addiction/symptoms-and-effects/
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
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