Signs of Sports Betting Addiction

Trent Lambert — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:46:03 -0400

What is sports betting?

Sports betting is a type of gambling where players put a wager on sporting events. The majority of betting is on traditional professional sports, such as football, horse racing, boxing, basketball, baseball and hockey.

In the US, the federal ban on sports betting was lifted by the Supreme Court in 2018. Since then, many states have legalized sports betting.

Sports bettors place their bets either legally, through a brick and mortar or online bookmaker or illegally through privately-run enterprises. Bookmakers offer the odds for sporting events and there are many types of wagers to choose from. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Moneyline bets require the chosen team to win the game outright.
• Spread betting is based on the accuracy of the bet, rather than a simple win or lose outcome.
• Over-under bets are based on the total score between both teams.
• Proposition bets are made on a specific element of a match not related to the final score – for example predicting the number of goals a player will score.

With the surge of online sports gambling, it is easier than ever for players to place bets without having to leave home.

Sports betting statistics
• A 2017 US survey found that 45% of respondents had placed a bet on a sporting event at least once in their lives, although only 4% reported doing so regularly. (Statista, 2018)
• The same survey reported that 45% of all online gambling worldwide comes from sports betting. In second place was casino online gambling at 24%. (Statista, 2018)
• 20% of American males said that they participate in sports betting, compared to 7% of females. (Morning Consult, 2020)
• Total sports betting revenue in the US is forecast to reach $2.5 billion in 2021 and, by 2025, this figure is anticipated to grow to $8 billion. (Statista, 2021)

Signs and symptoms of sports betting addiction

Most people who participate in sports betting do so recreationally but for others it can become addictive, like a drug. Here are some common signs and symptoms that your sports betting may be spiraling out of control:
• Constantly thinking about betting and planning how and when to place your next bet.
• Needing to bet with increasing amounts of money to find the same high.
• Trying to control, cut down or stop betting, without success.
• Feeling sad, irritable, restless or anxious when not betting, and in extreme cases, becoming aggressive or violent.
• Betting to escape problems or relieve feelings of stress, anxiety or depression.
• Becoming distant from friends, family and colleagues.
• Lying to cover up the extent of the problem.
• Asking others for financial help because large sums of money have been lost through betting.

If the above signs and symptoms resonate with you, or a loved one is displaying some of these behaviors, it is time to seek professional help. Take our gambling disorder test.

Dangers of sports betting

While some people engage in sports betting without any notable at-risk behaviors, for others it can become a dangerous addiction. Left untreated, sports betting addiction can have many negative social, psychological and physical repercussions.

These include relationship conflict and breakdown; debt, financial problems and bankruptcy; work issues and job loss; stress, anxiety and depression; and insomnia, lack of appetite and stomach problems. In extreme cases it can lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts.
How to get help for sports betting addiction

Kindbridge – Sports Betting Awareness

If you are worried about your sports betting, or you think someone else might have a gambling addiction, Kindbridge can help.

We believe that treating sports betting addiction is not only about addressing the betting problem but also supporting your overall mental health and well-being. Our highly-qualified therapists will design a personalized recovery plan to help you regain control and get your life back on track.

Take our gambling disorder test here: https://rly.pt/3fTd2Qn
then get in touch to book your free and confidential 30-minute consultation: https://rly.pt/3SJfrM8

Kindbridge

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2022 2:59 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:59:49 -0400

Thanks for sharing.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2022 3:16 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 15:16:59 -0400

When I was very young growing up in Las Vegas Valley, I can't count the number of times I purchased a tool box or the like for gas money to get back home. People would lose their cars, homes, family, become alcoholics and drug users. Live on the streets, steal from anybody, become violent. In my day as soon as you walked through the door the house was getting 8% in their favor. That was in the 50 - 90s I don't know what it is today? Repeat customers were given a pamphlet to get help if they were noticed, State Law.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Oct 7 at 2022 6:04 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:04:00 -0400

The only sports betting I ever did was in the Marines with the Monday night football poor. One buck could turn into twenty to twenty-five. The second time I bet I won. I was never into poker more that penny poker for something to do in the barracks.

Response by Sgt Gary Birmingham made Oct 9 at 2022 7:21 PM

Sgt Gary Birmingham — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 19:21:34 -0400

The three rules to gambling in Vegas. And bonus forth.
1 - Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Set how much you can afford to lose ahead of time.

2 - If you lose, walk away; if you win, walk away.
Win or lose, walk away because the house always wins in the long run. I knew a woman who won and put a new pool in her backyard; another woman I knew won and put it all back in the machines. House always wins in the long run.

3 - If you are going to do it, do it right. For example, play three if the slot takes three quarters to win the super jackpot.
I've seen people fall to the ground after hitting the jackpot and realizing they don't get the super jackpot cause they didn't play the full amount. What is the point of playing? Win, not could have won.

Bonus four, always bet red.
You could say always bet black and get the same results. It doesn't matter as long as you play the above three rules.

If you can't play by the above rules, you probably should not be betting. They have some nice shows to go to instead.

Oh, and common sense bonus. Those free beers are not free. Putting a hundred dollars in the machines and getting two beers does not make the beers free. Just expensive. Buy your own beers, which are much cheaper.

You can easily adjust accordingly and apply these rules to any kind of betting.

Response by Sgt Frank Vanacore made May 11 at 2023 3:25 PM

Sgt Frank Vanacore — Thu, 11 May 2023 15:25:02 -0400

I am not a gambler but got a lot of tips on places to go from this forum if I ever decide too.

Response by Cpl Craig Howard made Jul 18 at 2023 10:57 PM

Cpl Craig Howard — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:57:59 -0400

We were over in the Persian Gulf when Pre-Season NFL Football was starting. We started a Superbowl Pool. 100 squares, $100 each square. Winner takes all. We sold the last box just after the game was played, but we were in a news blackout so we had no idea what the outcome was for a few weeks. As it turns out, the two richest guys on the boat shared a square and won. These guys were Civilian Tech Reps from Bell Helicopters. Like they needed the money. We gave them crap all the way home.

Response by PO3 Barney Baty made Sep 24 at 2023 11:27 AM

PO3 Barney Baty — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 11:27:00 -0400

I believe any betting is gambling and can become an addiction and should not be promoted. Blessings.

Response by SPC Clark Stinson made Jun 7 at 2025 12:35 PM

SPC Clark Stinson — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 12:35:57 -0400

This one has a hard time to find sports betting or any betting to be addictive. It would have to be based on each individual to risk so much over some betting. More so, it has to do with one's drive for personal gain and ego of winning while putting much at stake.

Response by SSgt Alex Johnson made Nov 20 at 2025 1:56 PM

SSgt Alex Johnson — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:56:42 -0500

You’ve summed up the landscape really well — the mix of legality, online access, and the sheer variety of wager types is exactly why sports betting has grown so fast over the last few years. And for people who approach it responsibly, advanced stats and analytics become more meaningful and fun to use, especially on platforms that present information clearly, much like how https://bookmakers-rdc.com/bookmakers/melbet melbet rdc structures its market data to help users understand what they’re looking at rather than just guessing. At the same time, your reminder about recognising the signs of addiction is absolutely vital; keeping an eye on habits and being honest with yourself is the real key to staying on the right side of it.

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