NY Reminds to Wager Responsibly on March Madness

March Madness is back again, and New Yorkers are eager to place their wagers on their preferred college basketball teams. But, as betting volume increases, the Empire State advises local sports fans to play responsibly and set limits on their plays. This is due to the fact, that sports betting in the state is at an all-time high, as locals can also wager online.

Currently, New Yorkers have access to nine sports betting apps when betting online on sporting events. This became possible on January 8, 2022, when the state debuted its first legal mobile sports wagering market. For its first year, the sector brought in more than U$900 million in tax revenue, which will be invested into youth sports, education, and tackling problem gambling.

Play for Fun

However, with the increase in accessibility of mobile sports betting, it can be easy for bettors to develop problem gambling. Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said March Madness sees an increase in gambling and more demand for the organization’s services. He added that many people have the signs of addiction behaviour without knowing.

Some tips from the council for players include keeping track of money spent when wagering and setting limits and not going over them. The organization also advises that it is important for bettors to know how much time they have spent gambling and when to take breaks. It also urges not to game with non-discretionary money, or said otherwise, the money needed for other purposes.

Additionally, players are also advised by the council’s experts not to always let it ride or chase losses after winning or losing play. Also, it is important for them not to gamble in order to cope with or avoid anxiety or depression. They also remind local sports bettors, that it is okay to ask for help once a player’s gambling habits get out of control.

And if one sees themselves caught too deep in problem gambling, New York offers numerous services to help. There’s the New York Council on Problem Gambling, the New York State HOPEline, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and the New York State Gaming Commission. The objective is to raise awareness of the issue while also advocating for support services.

This month is also National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and this year’s edition of the campaign is the 20th edition of it. In order to support the cause, New York announced that it will illuminate a handful of buildings in the colour yellow as well as host events. Some of these properties, include the Albany International Airport Gateway, Empire State Plaza, Fairport Lift Bridge, Grand Central Terminal and others.

Probing the Effects

This month, New York’s Problem Gambling Resource Center also informed that it will be examining the effects of the introduction of mobile sports betting in the state. Jeffrey Wierzbicki shared that last year, the organization saw double the calls for help. He also noted that many sports marketing campaigns were targeting college-age students.

Source: Boecker, Matt “As March Madness Chugs Along, New York Bettors Need To Remember To Gamble Responsibly” PlayNY, March 22, 2023