Betting on the Super Bowl is something it seems like just about everyone does. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the most important rule of betting responsibly.
The vast majority of people do gambling responsibly – at least 95% exhibit healthy gambling practices, said Martin Lycka, Entain senior VP for American regulatory affairs and responsible gambling.
Super Bowl betting tends to take on a new life of its own, though. Plenty of people take part in unregulated gambling like squares and side bets with friends. On the regulated side, US sports betting operators advertise heavily already and will certainly pick up steam before the Super Bowl as well.
Tips for responsible Super Bowl betting
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has 10 tips to keep gambling fun and responsible. They ring doubly true for high-profile betting events like the Super Bowl:
- Know the game: understand that the house always wins in the long run.
- Make your plan: know what you’re willing to lose and for how long you plan to gamble.
- Risk: know, and respect, your risk tolerance.
- Money: never borrow money to gamble and do not gamble what you cannot afford to lose.
- Team up: get a buddy and help each other stick to their betting plans.
- Timer: use a timer to keep track of how long you’ve been betting.
- Balance: make sure gambling is balanced with other activities.
- Entertainment: treat gambling as a source of entertainment and not a source of income.
- Take a break: be sure to take a break if gambling loses its fun instead of chasing losses.
- Expect to lose: be OK with losing whatever bet is placed before placing it.
The NFL and NCPG launched a joint initiative with the NFL’s “tri-exclusive” betting partners Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel. The main message is simple and to the point: “Stick to Your Game Plan. Always Bet Responsibly.”
Lycka: onus on operators to help problem gamblers
While bettors need to be aware of their habits, the overall responsibility to make sure problem gamblers get the help they need lies with operators, Lycka said.
The best way to tackle suspected problem gambling is through tailored individual response, he said. For example, Entain can prompt a gambler to see how much time and money they have spent wagering if problem gambling is suspected.
What the gambler does with that information is still a choice, though, Lycka said. If the problem is serious enough, Entain could force a bettor to set a limit and could close an account if needed, he added.
Entain also uses specially trained customer service reps that focus solely on responsible gambling. BetMGM, Entain’s US sports betting JV with MGM Resorts, uses those agents.
