Sunday, February 12th, 2023, is footballu2019s Biggest Game, one of the most celebrated sporting events of the year.u00a0 Along with the big game, the divisional and conference playoffs are among the most popular sporting events for placing bets. Given the roll out of legalized mobile sports betting, it is expected that wagers on the Big Game this year will once again surpass records set from the previous year, with as many as 45 million additional Americans placing legal wagers from their mobile devices.u00a0
Theu00a0American Gaming Associationu00a0(AGA) estimates that au00a0record 31.4 million peopleu00a0in the US could wager as much asu00a0$7.61 billionu00a0dollars on this yearu2019s Big Game. This number would be a 35 percent increase from last year.
While American footballu00a0is the most popular U.S. sport for wagers, it is second only to Soccer, in the global sports betting market. u00a0Wagers on the NFL make up nearly three quarters of all sports bets placed in the US.
For most, the Big Game is traditionally a great time to have fun with family and friends, but for some, Partying, drinking, and gambling activities can get out of control. With mobile sports betting now available on the same devices people use to access their banking and credit cards, along with the ability to link those accounts directly to sports betting apps, the risks are greater than ever for a situation to quickly become out of control.u00a0
Many players may not realize how much actual money they are spending, since they are not physically holding cash in their hands like they would at a casino. These costs can easily add up and lead tou00a0gambling debt.
Tips to keep sports betting safe & funu2026
- Know how the game works and what the odds are before you bet.
- Hope to win but expect to lose.
- If you place a bet, look at it as entertainment and NOT a way to make money or win back previous losses.
- Donu2019t bet more than you can afford to lose u2013 set a money limit and stick with it.
- Limit the amount of drinking when youu2019re gambling u2013 the more you drink, the more money youu2019re likely to bet.
What if you start feeling out of control?
- Know you can place in-app limits on mobile and internet betting
- Know you can block on-line gambling sites through BetBlocker or GamBan.
- Access the Voluntary Self Exclusion gambling program (VEP) offered in Maryland.
- Most Important - IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING FUN, PUT DOWN THE DEVICE AND TAKE A BREAK
Remember, sports betting should NOT be viewed as a financial solution u2013 nitu2019s just a game!