One sports team has achieved the longest winning streak on record. Game after game, season after season, and year after year, they enjoy incredible success and unbelievable profits. This team has major endorsement deals, nationwide recognition, and millions of fans. Can you guess this winning team? Bookies.
Many individuals who bet on sports believe they can beat the odds by studying stats and strategies. Sportsbooks even play on this belief that bettors can outwit the house and make real money. In reality, studying the game takes significant time, effort, and resources. Even if the individual can commit the time it takes to learn every stat, unpredictable circumstances can change the game dynamics in an instant.
If a small handful of “sharps”— informed, experienced, often professional bettors— learn enough to win more bets than they lose, sportsbooks squeeze them out by placing restrictions on their bets, or by outright banning those bettors.
In short, bookies only make money when you lose. And they’ll do everything in their power to make sure you do.
The problem is sports betting is exciting and accessible
Sports betting is conveniently accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s always a game on and a bookie ready to take your bet. Soon, new casinos in Nebraska will add their own sportsbooks, making betting that much more accessible.
As more states make the move to legalize mobile betting, putting money on the game will grow even more convenient. For now, Nebraska sports betting will only be allowed in designated space inside the casinos. Watch for that to change as gambling interests push to expand.
Sportsbooks know how compelling sports betting can become. That’s how they make their money
When you’ve got money on it, suddenly a 3-hour game becomes a thrilling experience. That adrenaline rush encourages some individuals to continue betting (and betting more) on games just to continue feeling the excitement.
Unfortunately, when you stop betting on the games, those same games that offered a rush now lack excitement. Sportsbooks know bettors crave that excitement— and that they’ll keep coming back to get it. For these bettors, what was once an enjoyable pastime has become a life-impacting habit.
When sports betting becomes a problem, you may decide it’s time to take the wheel back and change direction.
Because sports betting is exciting and accessible - and lucrative for bookies - opportunities to get caught up in sports betting are only going to increase. But individuals who realize their sports betting has become a problem have choices.
Here are a few things you can do to change your gambling:
Set limits. Give yourself a monthly or weekly sports betting limit, then do your best to stick with it. For some individuals, just having a solid plan in place before the game starts is enough to help them take control of their sports gambling. To improve your chances of succeeding, ask a friend or family member to keep you accountable. If you’re willing to be honest with them and with yourself, you can make a lasting change.
Choose to quit betting altogether. For other individuals, setting limits isn’t enough to change their gambling. To truly break out of the betting cycle, they choose to completely stop betting on sports. While this choice is a difficult one, it’s the best way to protect yourself from taking sports betting too far.
Get help. One of the best ways you can change your gambling habit and learn to enjoy sports again— without the wagers— is to work with a certified problem gambling professional from the Nebraska Problem Gamblers Assistance Program (NPGAP). Your certified professional can help you take control of your betting by providing you with the resources and support you need.
When you decide to change your sports gambling, you gain the freedom to enjoy every inning, quarter, race, and round for what it is— not what it’s worth.
You don’t have to stop watching sports. But you should recognize how sports betting is increasingly changing the way people engage with the game. And not for the better!
To get free, confidential help for you or a loved one, call or text 1-833-BETOVER (238-6837)
When you reach out, an NPGAP certified problem gambling professional will get you the support, resources, or information you need to move forward. A full 87% of our clients report successfully decreasing their gambling after working with an NPGAP pro. When you’re ready to change your sports betting, we’re ready to help.