Anyone who watches sports has identified the influx of eye-catching, funny, and big-budget classified ads selling online sports sites and apps. It can be argued that the “sport” of sports turns out to be just as popular as watching the game itself. .
A few months ago, the sports gaming bill has not yet passed the Minnesota Capitol. And even if sports remain illegal in Minnesota, the truth is that other people will still bet on sports and potentially have interaction in a completely safe environment. An all-too-common trail of challenging gambling and addiction, which can lead to bankruptcy, relationship dissolution, domestic relations, violence, homelessness, and monetary crimes. Unfortunately, challenge players have the highest suicide rate of all orders of addiction.
As a neutral gambling organisation, we are not opposed to gambling. We fully understand that many other people can play responsibly. But we can’t forget that, according to a 2020 study by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, 250,000 Minnesota adults, and 6,000 high school seniors, have reported challenges in gaming and do not have a network of Solid protection for your recovery.
Given those facts, we can’t stress enough that we want to make Minnesota a safer, more supportive network that treats gambling as a treatable and preventable public health problem.
Unfortunately, Minnesota (and the other 38 states that have legalized sports gambling) do not consider gambling to be a matter of public health. Many of those states rushed their sports gambling law and failed to include mandatory customer protections and prevention resources. As a result, all states that have legalized sports betting have noted a significant increase in calls to question gambling hotlines.
Here are the main red flags Minnesota wants to think about and prepare for when the debate over sports games continues on Capitol Hill.
If this is the case, we have a great opportunity to reconsider any long-term laws that include vital customer protections to ensure that resources are in a position to be more likely to accumulate in the challenge game.
Such protections come with adequate investment for more medical and family providers, and to provide savings and education equipment to help Minnesotans perceive challenging gambling, especially for young people. Safeguards should also be put in place to allow players to opt out. of online or in-app games designed to entice players to play. In addition, we will have to try to restrict gambling advertising to people under 21 years of age. Finally, we want to ban prop bets (side bets that are not similar to end bets). results of a game) in school games to prevent players from making exaggerated bets and to protect student-athletes from bullying and potential game integrity issues.
Either way, we cannot forget the reality: other people will continue to play. That’s why family and friends want to be aware of common symptoms that could indicate a gambling problem. We all play a role in destigmatizing gambling addiction and raising our antennae toward this developing challenge so we can respond in the most productive way.
Here are some symptoms that would possibly involve problem gambling:
Although Minnesota does not have the resources to properly treat gambling addiction, there is little help for those seeking a path to recovery. A first step for anyone who needs help is to call the Minnesota Gambling Helpline at 1-800-333-4673.
Susan Sheridan Tucker is the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling, a neutral gambling organization committed to the lives of Minnesotans affected by gambling addiction.