PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Super Bowl, which will include the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in this year’s edition, is the biggest event in professional football.
The event, being held Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona, is also the biggest for sports betting.
Some $16 billion is forecasted to be wagered on the Super Bowl this year in the U.S., according to the American Gaming Association.
Dr. George Diemer, an associate professor at Temple's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, described the explosion in sports betting since the Supreme Court paved the way for states to legalize it back in 2018.
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"When the wave started with legalization, we knew that it was going to be a big wave,” Diemer said.
“But now that we're watching it, it's truly impressive. It is that you turn on the TV and you're seeing the ads, and it's almost like it's all over the place."
New Jersey outlets took in $763 million in legal sports gambling business last year, while Pennsylvania saw more than $401 million in legal sports betting during 2022.
Easy access to betting can also lead to serious problems.
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Denise Merritt, outgoing program director with Bensalem-based addiction treatment center Livengrin Foundation, said the approaching Super Bowl has led to more people asking for help.
"Yes, actually, we have had an increase in calls and referrals for gambling services,” said Merritt. “Right now, especially with the Super Bowl and then in March, I anticipate it's going to continue with March Madness as well."
Merritt says red flags that you might have a gambling problem include struggling to set limits, lying to cover what happened to your money, becoming irritable, and having mood swings.
The foundation encourages people with a gambling addiction to call them at 800-245-4746.