Sports Related Problem Gambling – Who is at Risk?

Anyone can develop a gambling problem – young, old, male, female, rich or poor. All games of chance are a potential threat to a person at risk for gambling addiction. However, sports gambling is becoming more invasive in today’s society and is reaching younger audiences. The 2010 National Annenberg Survey of Youth showed that sports betting is the most popular form of gambling among youth 14 - 22.

Nearly a quarter of adolescent males bet on sports in an average month. According to the NCAA, 92% of male college athletes reported that they started gambling [on sports or any other gambling] in high school or earlier. Many students are first introduced to wagering on sports by completing an NCAA tournament bracket or buying a Super Bowl square, suggesting these forms of gambling may serve as a gateway to more expensive and dangerous forms of betting, according to a study conducted by Tim Otteman of US News & World Report. The NCAA estimates that 1 in 10 Americans will complete a tournament bracket, and CNBC estimates that $6-12 billion is wagered on March Madness.

While betting on a tournament or football game does not automatically cause a problem or put someone on the path towards addiction, its popularity does create the need for education and encouraging responsible gambling practices.

Much of the recent research shows a higher interest, and thereby higher risk, to males and youth.

According to the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University, boys develop more gambling problems than girls because they are more competitive and enjoy feeling important when they win. Also, boys are more susceptible to develop gambling problems than girls because they participate in gambling activities that are more problematic, such as sports betting. They believe that because they know all the teams and the players, they have a good chance of winning their bet. Many teenagers have developed a gambling problem due to their participation in betting on sports events.

Athletes are at a high risk for sports gambling for many reasons including unreasonable expectation of winning, competitive personalities, need for action and excitement, ability to play through pain and perception of social norms. Some other risk factors of problem gambling in general include being an athlete, belief in one’s own skill, racial and ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of developing a gambling addiction, easy access to money, and having a family history of addiction.

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week is an ideal time to raise awareness of problem gambling and responsible gaming. While anyone is at risk, there are specific risk factors to be aware of. Know the risk factors, and know your limits before you place a bet.
Public service message provided by he National Council on Problem Gambling.

Free CEU presentation for LMHP and LCSW
“Basic Information About Gambling Addiction.”

April 7, 11:30 to 12:30 at Peace and Power Counseling 6901 Dodge St., Suite 101.

Program Content: Participants will learn about compulsive gambling/pathological gambling.  They will learn about resources in the community for low to no cost gambling evaluations and treatment.

Objectives:
1. Participants will learn the difference between problem gambling and pathological gambling.

2. Participants will learn the two different types of pathological gamblers.

3. Participants will learn the similarities and differences between pathological gambling and drug dependence.

4. Participants will learn about the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Lie/Bet Screening.

5. Participants will learn how to score these screening tools.

6. Participants will learn a harm reduction/way to address clients in the precontemplation stage of the change process.

7. Participants will learn where to refer clients for low to no cost gambling treatment services in Omaha.


Please contact Gina Fricke for more information and/or to register at 402-515-7412

Please join us on March 22, 6:00pm at the Swanson Library at 90th and Dodge Street for a free event that will help acknowledge March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
 
Speak with a counselor who specializes in treating those suffering with gambling problems and their family members.  Find the answer to your      questions.

· How to help someone you care about who has a problem.
· Youth Gambling: How to protect your children.
· Financial Problems: How to protect your money.
· Gambling in the workplace: How to protect your business.

Did you know that 4-6% of adolescents have experienced problem gambling? That is double the number of adults. Yikes!

Gambling has recently been pushed into the spotlight with Michael Jordan’s son tweeting about losing $35,000 in one night. With the stress of being an athlete he is already more likely than his peers to struggle with gambling addiction. Michael Jordan’s son (and you!) are part of a generation growing up in a world where gambling is socially acceptable. Gambling is so intertwined in pop culture, it even made an appearance in the hit movie Toy Story 3 and the short film preceding the blockbuster! Luckily there are shows like A&E’s Intervention and MTV’s True Life to depict the some of the awful realities of the compulsive gambler.  Hitting it big and living easy seems to be a widespread goal, but pursuing this fantasy is not worth the risk. Those addicted to gambling are up to 20x more likely to commit suicide so, especially as a teen, you’re betting on more than your money.

If you or someone you know has an addiction (don’t count anyone out- everyone is at risk!) he or she may lie to cover up how much money or time is spent gambling, miss important events to gamble, use gambling jargon frequently, try to win back money from previous losses or perhaps express a desire to quit or cut back on gambling.

With National Problem Gambling Awareness Week upon us, remember to play for fun, not for money. It’s just a game. Don’t let it become more.

For more information or confidential help call 1-800-522-4700.
Information shared by the National Council on Problem Gambling for Problem Gambling Awareness Week.

You would not open up your local newspaper and expect a price list of illegal drugs for sale. Yet you open up your paper to the sports pages, you see lines and point spreads on sporting events. The only legal place to place a bet in the US is Las Vegas. These same papers carry ads for 800 and 900 numbers that sell information to gamblers - “Get game of the month free”, “We pick 75% winners”.

Illegal sports betting is a huge industry in this country. CNBC estimates that 80-100 billion dollars is bet on NFL football, 6-10 billion dollars on the Super bowl, 60-70 billion on college football, 50 billion on college basketball and 6-12 billion on March Madness.

Sports betting is a big problem for compulsive gamblers. Compulsive gambling is deemed an impulse control disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Something as simple as reading the lines can often trigger a gambling binge. Some recovering gamblers cannot even buy a newspaper because of the anxiety it causes. Recovery from a gambling problem entails not testing or tempting oneself, for many gamblers the published betting lines become such a temptation.

March 6-12, 2011 is National Problem Gambling Awareness week, a grassroots program designed to create public awareness about the dangers and ramifications of compulsive gambling. Our focus this year is on sports gambling. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for newspapers to do something to different during the week? Something that newspapers and other publications can do to help problem gamblers is share an important message alongside point spreads and other sports betting-related information: “Need help for a gambling problem? Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 800-522-4700”. The media, in some way, entices people to gamble, how about some responsible gambling messages from the media during awareness week?
Information provided by the National Council on Problem Gambling for Gambling Awareness week.

Valentine’s Day is a day filled with hype about love and chocolate. 

This day can make us feel thankful for those who care for us or it can remind us how alone we feel.

If you are in a relationship, this is a good day to celebrate your partner.  Let him or her know how much you appreciate the small things.  Let your partner know those special things that he or she does  that make you glad you are together.

If you are not currently in a relationship this is a good time to recognize how you are feeling.  If you are grieving over the loss of a previous relationship, this may be a good time to get some help to get you through this difficult time.

Maybe you are satisfied and happy to have your independence.  If this is true for you, consider yourself your own Valentine.  Do something special to take care of you today. 

Either way, this day can be a day of self reflection.  It is a good idea to check in with yourself from time to time to see if things are going the way you want them to or not.  If they are going the way you want them to, great!  If not, this may be a good time to work on making your life more of what you want it to be.

If your goal is to find a significant other ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I like myself?  If the answer is yes, great!  If the answer is no, working to improve your self esteem is a great place to start. 

2. Do I do things that will help me meet someone?  If you tend to spend time alone at home and/or work, you are not likely to meet someone.  Get out and get involved.  There are a lot of classes and/or volunteer opportunities that will get you closer to meeting someone with similar interests.

If your loneliness has caused you to turn to gambling, spending or compulsive eating to make you feel better, we can help. If you are in a relationship that is struggling we can also help with that.

On Saturday January 22, I did a 4 hour presentation to about 14 adolescents at Morning Star Luteran Church.  The presentation was about gambling addiciton and substance abuse and how those things can impact a person's hopes and dreams in a less than positive way.  As part of this presentation I shared this video that I found on YouTube.  Please check it out and share it with the kids and teens in your life to help them get a different perspective on problem and pathological or addictive gambling.  Let me know if you have any questions.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2tdCdKqvoU

January 11, 2011 ended the most recent Grief Recovery Outreach Group.  Quotes from the participants are below.

"I really felt listened to.  This process has given me a way to deal with other losses in my life."  

"The process really showed me the importance of quietly listening."

"This recovery group helped me greatly deal with loss and will help with all the others I will encounter in life."

"This process is deep but good to get it down on paper and open up to someone that has been there also.  It has opened my eyes."

"It was good to be listened to and I felt people really cared about what I was saying.  I wish we had more time.  I wish we could have talked and got to know a little more about each other.  Good process."

"I really learned the difference between how to properly grieve and myths about grieving."

"Being able to discuss my feelings about my grief in complete confidence has helped me with my process of grieving."

Please contact Gina Fricke to register for this life changing grief group, 402-515-7412.

A Grief Group based on: The Grief Recovery Handbook—The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce and Other Losses.  
The 10-Week Program will begin
Wednesday January 26, 2010
6:15pm to 7:45pm
Presbyterian Church of the Master
10710 Corby Circle Omaha, NE 68134  
You must be registered to attend, please call soon to register.   Cost: $50.00 total for the 10 week group. 
In addition, books will be offered at $11 or $15 depending on the version you choose. Or, you can pick up a grief recovery handbook most places books are sold.
Christian based childcare is provided.
This grief group has no religious component.  
For further information and to register please call:
Gina Fricke at 402-515-7412