(WBEN) - With the first week of the 2023 NFL season here and several states in the U.S. legalizing sports betting in recent years, gaming and sportsbook experts are projecting the continuation of record-breaking numbers when it comes to the amount of people in the nation placing their bets during football season.
According to the American Gaming Association, 28% of American adults plan on betting on NFL games this season. 73 million people, who, in one form or another, will be placing their bets.
"For football, the excitement generates when the first college game kicks off in the end of August. But when the big boys play their first week, it's off the charts," says DraftKings Director of Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello. "The anticipation of opening day for pro football seems to build each and every year, and more users and more players on our app come on board."
It has never been easier to place a sports bet in New York State and across the country. DraftKings, and others, allows you bet on games in your living room just by downloading an app on your smartphone. You can even bet the game while the game is going on.
The accessibility factor for those who want to place a sports wager is alarming to professionals who are trying to get problem gamblers to stop their potentially destructive and addictive behavior.
Team Leader for Western Problem Gambling Resource Center, Jeff Wierzbicki, says he has seen an increase in the amount of callers he's getting from young adults who say they need help squashing their sports betting behavior.
"College students actually, and their parents, we've seen about a 50 to 75% increase pretty much statewide in the number of calls for help for sports betting alone. There's also been an increase in the number of females that are calling for help as well, which is a little bit unusual from the past. So I think it's that mobile aspect of sports betting that is just really attracting that demographic that's attached to their mobile devices all the time."
Wierzbicki has heard all kinds of stories of people gambling more than they can afford.
"One of the biggest problems that we're seeing is college students and the younger people that have savings or have money set aside for school, and they're burning through it so quickly. We're getting calls from parents who are literally in tears because their kid has come home from school and can't afford their tuition anymore. We get calls from people who are literally sitting in their parking lot at work on payday, calling us because they're they know if they don't do something about this right away, they're just gonna blow their whole paycheck by the end of the night. It's just endless for people."
Fortunately for those who live in New York State, there is a plethora of resources available for those who feel their gambling is an issue. Wierzbicki says the best course of action is to talk candidly with someone, whether it be a trusted friend or a specialized counselor.
"Reach out for help. They can reach out to our organization, our local phone number, which is (716)-833-4274. It's local, it's confidential. What we recommend is just talk to someone, let someone know what's going on, how it's impacting you or your family or loved one. We usually recommend at least getting an assessment to see if you know if it's just kind of a gambling problem, or is it a gambling addiction, because there is a difference between the two. We'll meet you where you're at. We'll help you get to those resources and on your way to recovery. September is Recovery Month, so it's a great time for this discussion."