University of Florida expert talks sports gambling ahead of Super Bowl

A UF Health expert says the accessibility of sports betting contributes to its increasing problem status.
Sports gambling addiction can lead to financial ruin, mental health issues, and even suicidal thoughts.
Only one legal sports betting app, Hard Rock Bet, is currently available in Florida.
Treatment options for sports gambling addiction include therapy, support groups like Gamblers Anonymous, and limiting exposure to sports betting triggers.

With Super Bowl LIX set to kick off this Sunday, many Floridians are looking forward to watching and enjoying America’s biggest sporting event. Others, however, are hoping to cash in on only the second Super Bowl in which Floridians can legally bet.

In 2021, Seminole Tribes launched its sports betting app, Hard Rock Bet, and began to offer sports gambling in certain casinos. A lawsuit, however, caused the app to temporarily shut down after pari-mutuel owners alleged it violated federal law. The app was quietly re-launched in November 2023.

Currently, it is the only way Floridians can legally wager on sports. According to an American Gaming Association (AGA) report, as of Dec. 31, 2023, 15 Florida casinos, mostly located in South Florida cities like Miami and Hollywood, have raked in a combined $690 million in revenue.

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The AGA reported that Americans will set a record wager of $1.39 billion legally on this Sunday’s big game compared to consulting firm Eilers & Krejcik’s projection last year of $1.25 billion.

A UF Health expert said sports gambling is a rising problem in the U.S. but does not think the Super Bowl starts a trend of addictive behavior.

“Growing up in New York, gamblers will tell me the Super Bowl is “amateur hour” and not where people get into problems in gambling. The sports gamblers, that have problems, are losing all their money when Vanderbilt plays at Mississippi State’s basketball court or Georgia plays at Florida’s baseball field or other SEC games that are going on at the same time is what gets them into debt,” said Dr. Scott Teitelbaum, vice chair of UF’s Department of Psychiatry.

As part of his job, Teitelbaum, chief of addiction medicine, and medical director of the Florida Recovery Center, evaluates and treats patients with an addiction to sports gambling, including professional and college athletes.

Teitelbaum defined sports gambling as a process or “hidden” addiction where gamblers are not ingesting a substance into how they feel but engaging in action. In addition, a gambling phenomenon called “chasing” occurs when you lose a bet and to make up for your losses, you double the wager.

Suggesting gamblers easily chase their way into debt, gamblers sometimes commit felonies to make up the debt. Teitelbaum alluded to a former Jackson Jaguar employee who was arrested for embezzling $22 million to pay off most of his gambling debt.

Although gambling is not an addiction that can affect the body physically like alcohol, it can produce a lot of stress, creating mental health issues often linked to suicidal thoughts.

“Suicidal thinking is very real, because when you are at a point whether your spouse is going to divorce you, or you owe a ton of money you’ve been stealing from people, it’s very real. That’s why if you have suicidal behavior, you see no way out,” Teitelbaum said.

In the past, Teitelbaum has treated patients with gambling issues when it was illicit, and bettors had to engage with a bookmaker. Now, Teitelbaum said the nature of sports betting today is not what it was decades ago.

“It’s a rising problem, because it’s socially acceptable,” Teitelbaum said. “It’s not illegal, it’s not criminal, it’s widely available, and the more people that are doing it, the more people are engaging the behavior, the more problems you’re going to see.”

Teitelbaum recommends his patients try and avoid going to areas that can easily delve back into their substance of choice. However, he says it is harder for people addicted to sports gambling when it is everywhere, even at home.

“Now, when you watch ESPN, there’s shows just on betting, right, right? Whatever the drug is, whether it be alcohol, drugs or gambling, as you make something more available, and the more people are doing it, they’re going to have a problem,” Teitelbaum said.

Teitelbaum recommends if you struggle with sports gambling to change your behavior like taking a break from watching sports, looking at the betting lines, and having a family member provide an allowance. He also recommends seeking treatment and resources like Gamblers Anonymous or GA.

“Going to GA can help gamblers find and talk to someone who truly understands the addiction and recovery,” Teitelbaum said.

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