Beyond the Bet: Understanding Sports Betting & Gambling Addiction 🎲 

Written By Moraya DeGeare

Interview with Dr. Lia Nower of Rutgers University Center for Gambling Addiction

Beyond the Bet: Understanding Sports Betting & Gambling Addiction

HomeEc Episode 1.8 • Super Bowl Special • Feb 7, 2025

In this timely episode released just before Super Bowl LIX, we dive deep into the world of sports betting and gambling addiction with Dr. Lia Nower, Director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. As Americans prepare to legally wager an estimated $1.4 billion on the Super Bowl alone, we explore the intersection of technology, addiction, and financial wellness. Dr. Nower helps us understand how sports betting has evolved from riverboat casinos to our smartphones, and why this matters for families and relationships. The sports betting industry, now generating $17 billion in annual revenue and growing at 8% yearly, has been transformed by technology and accessibility. With the rise of social sports betting apps and unregulated gaming platforms targeting younger users, this episode offers crucial insights for parents, partners, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between technology, gambling, and mental health.

Quick Takeaways

  • Sports betting industry: $17B and growing 8% yearly

  • Super Bowl betting expected to hit $1.4B

  • Gambling addiction has highest addiction-related suicide rate

  • Technology increasing accessibility and risk

  • Prevention starts with understanding warning signs

Critical Insights from Dr. Nower

On Addiction & Control:

"When something is classified as an impulse control disorder... the implication is there is a compulsive component that the person cannot control. But what we found with gambling—like substances—the person may experience a loss of control, but they can ultimately regain control over this."

On Family Impact:

"Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate of any addiction because people can hide it until they're coming for your house, your car, and the shame associated with the behavior is enormous."

On Industry Tactics:

"They're going to capture you with the sports wagering. But that's not where they make their money... they make their money in the online casinos. So as soon as you begin sports wagering, they are going to try to triage you to their online casinos."

On The Next Generation:

"Kids are being raised with odds integrated into everything. So gambling and sports loving are inextricably linked... we're raising generations of people that like, if I don't have skin in the game, it's not fun."

On Regulation Gaps:

"The federal government makes a ton of money off gambling taxes revenues, and there is no federal regulatory presence for gambling like there is for cigarettes or alcohol. We need a federal regulatory body that sets minimum player protection standards."

Host's Corner: Personal Takes

"After recording this episode, I really got thinking about how culture and early exposure plays a role in those early pathways to gambling addiction. As a mom, it sparked an immediate change - I picked my kid up from school and had a new conversation about screen time and especially how games are training towards addictive behaviors. My kiddo is in 4th grade and surprisingly was engaged in the conversation. It reminded me that these aren't just academic discussions - they're about real families making real choices every day."
-Moraya Seeger DeGeare, LMFT & Host

"What struck me most was how quickly this issue can snowball and remain hidden. Money is already the number one stressor for most American adults, and then you add the devastation of a gambling addiction on family finances. I was particularly struck by how technology has transformed accessibility - you could literally be gambling during our entire conversation and we wouldn't know. That's fundamentally different from having to go to a physical space or host a poker night. It's made me much more aware of how betting has become normalized in ways we might not even notice." -Nick Ashburn, Host

Essential Terms

  • Pathways Model for Problem and Pathological Gambling: A framework identifying three main pathways to gambling disorder: behaviorally conditioned (no pre-existing conditions), emotionally vulnerable (pre-existing mental health conditions), and antisocial impulsivists developed by Blaszczynski and Nower and published in 2002, and revised in 2021

  • Interval Ratio Reinforcement: Pattern where uncertain payoff timing increases anticipated reward

  • Mixed Venue Gambling: Combined online and land-based gambling, linked to higher disorder rates

Episode Guide

  • 00:00 Introduction & Context

  • 06:30 Dr. Nower's Background

  • 12:15 Understanding Gambling Addiction

  • 18:45 Technology's Impact

  • 25:30 Family Systems Impact

  • 32:00 Prevention Strategies

  • 38:15 Future Trends & Concerns

  • 42:00 Resources & Support

Warning Signs to Watch

  • Increased isolation

  • Secretive behavior

  • Unexplained financial changes

  • Preoccupation with betting

  • Chasing losses

  • Lying about activities

Prevention Strategy Basics

  • Set deposit limits before starting

  • Use only cash bank accounts

  • Monitor statements monthly

  • Separate financial accounts if concerns arise

Conversation Starters

For Families with Children & Teens

  • How do you feel about games that ask you to spend real money for extras or upgrades?

  • What do you notice about betting ads during sports games?

  • When your friends talk about betting or gambling, what do they say?

  • How can we make watching sports fun without needing to bet?

  • What boundaries around gaming and in-app purchases feel fair to you?

For Partners & Couples

  • How do we each view risk differently in our financial decisions?

  • What financial boundaries would make us both feel secure?

  • How can we support each other in making mindful spending choices?

  • What would help us have more open conversations about money?

  • How do we want to model healthy relationships with technology and money for our family?

For Concerned Loved Ones

  • "I've noticed some changes lately, and I care about you. Could we talk about what's been going on?"

  • "What do you find exciting about betting? What worries you about it?"

  • "How can I support you in feeling more connected and engaged outside of gaming?"

  • "Would you be open to exploring some financial wellness resources together?"

  • "What would make you feel safe talking about this more openly?"

Self-Reflection Questions

  • How do I use technology to cope with stress or loneliness?

  • What triggers my urge to take financial risks?

  • Are my gaming/betting habits affecting my relationships?

  • What activities could replace the excitement I get from betting?

  • Who could I reach out to for support if I'm struggling?

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Remember: Like any good recipe, recovery and prevention work best when shared with others and adjusted to individual dietary needs. For more insights on navigating financial wellness and relationships, visit HomeEcPodcast.com

Moraya DeGeare
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