KRGC reminds fans of sports betting risks ahead of football season

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Just like with a substance addiction, someone addicted to gambling can build a tolerance to the brain’s reward system, making them go further to feel the same sensation.

And with each wager placed, there is more at stake than losing a couple of bucks.

Since its legalization two years ago, sports betting has become an integral part of game day for some football fans, but it’s important to recognize when the game is starting to play you.

The ease of placing bets has allowed sports betting to take off in the past couple of years.

“With you not having to get in your car and drive to a casino to drive to a sports book, you can just sign up on an app and bet from your couch,” Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission Government Relations Manager Randy Evans said.

In the same vein, that convenience can become a pitfall for some users causing them to spiral into an addiction.

“People will, what we call chase their bets,” Evans said. “If they start losing, then they’ll start doubling, trying to catch up, to quote, get even, and they just tailspin farther, or they’ll start off real small and win and think that it’s easy.”

Evans says many individuals either don’t realize they have a problem or they refuse to admit it, but there are some red flags to look out for.

“If you’re borrowing money to gamble, if you think that you’re trying to win to pay bills, and if you start to not do things that you enjoy doing,” Evans listed.

The boom of advertising in recent years may cloud the devastating impact the habit can wreak.

Evans encourages those who are aware they have a problem to sign up for the voluntary exclusion list at either the casinos or the KRGC office, or on the apps. With the option of 90 days up to a lifetime, the six legal sportsbooks and casinos can prohibit you from placing a bet anywhere.

“People will say, I signed up at FanDuel, but now I’m trying to bet on DraftKings, and I can’t,” Evans said. “ So we explained to them, once you sign up for one it’s across the board.”

KDADS offers various resources for those who feel they may have a gambling issue.

For no out-of-pocket service costs call 1-800-gambler.

The Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling holds meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at 2209 SW 29th St. from 8:30 to 9:30 am.

Visit knowwhenthegameisplayingyou.com or www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20-questions

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