Sports Bets Break Barriers
Belle Donnaud, staff writer
What starts as a $20 bet on the big game can quickly turn into thousands of dollars down the drain. As sports betting becomes easier than ever, more young adults are taking risks that extend into their futures. Sports gambling and betting was made illegal in the U.S. for a long time. Now in the vast majority of states, it is completely legal and abused by many. Sports betting should be banned because so many people, specifically young men, are losing large sums of money that could be going towards their futures. Some may argue that putting money on sports builds more interest and excitement for the game; however, games can be exciting without financial burden.
Young men make up a large quantity of sports bettors, and the loss of money in this way can prevent them from reaching future financial goals. Research shows that men, especially ages 18-29, are the most effected when it comes to losing money in this way. The American Gaming Association states that the average regular better under the age or 30, loses $2,000-$2,100 per year. One extreme situation shows a man, mid- twenties, losing $40,000 a year for seven years before quitting betting. Most people, once they’ve lost all of that money, regret doing it all together. I spoke with a Sports Marketing teacher from John’s Creek High School, Mr. Joe Eineker about the topic of losing money on sports. He had a roommate who bet on sports very regularly, “I had a roommate who did it quite often. He had a guy he could call, and he had a like $2,000 vig where you can bet up to $2,000,” He has firsthand experience with people in his life who have bet on sports. He kept away from the betting because of what he saw happening personally. it can become addictive quickly. When asked what age he and his roommate participated in the activities he replied with,
“I would say probably in my 20s, yeah 20s,”
the exact age studies show it is the most common. Young men like Mr. Eineker’s old friend lose life savings and their futures just because of a need for a quick hit if adrenaline from putting their future on the line.
Although putting money on a game does make it immediately more engaging, there are so many other ways to enjoy a sport while keeping your savings locked down. You can enjoy friendly competitions like Fantasy Football, but betting should be kept to a maximum of $100 a person. Focus could shift from luck and guessing games, to real skill-based games like trivia leagues, pick’em contests and brackets. Try putting the money you would’ve spent betting aside for college and other major expenses. One more way to build excitement for a game without losing money is by watching a group. That is a fantastic way to get the fun environment for a game but still do not need to worry about the losses. I had a conversation with young science teacher, Ms. Katie Scott, and she had a lot to say on the topic of sports betting’s healthier alternatives, “I think like maybe like $100 to $200 is good yearly,” supporting my idea of placing a limit on how much you can bet to keep everything under control. There are alternate solutions to the major issue of sports betting nowadays, and we just need to stand up to enforce that and make a change.
Sports betting may seem fun and harmless initially, but it is a slippery slope of money loss and regret. By choosing to save money, using safer alternatives and still enjoying the thrill of the game, you can choose both a happy and risk-free sports season. All in all, protecting your hard-earned money and making good choices pays off more than any bet. Many people have firsthand experience with situations like these, and sometimes that’s all it takes to keep someone away from making that bad decision.
