Reporting and photos by Jacob Santiago.
With a big gambling event just passed, the WWE’s Royal Rumble, and some looking to chase their losses, the next big event for sports gamblers is obviously this Sunday’s Super Bowl, with over $1.76 billion expected to be legally wagered, a nearly 27% year-over-year increase.
In our state, 15 percent of residents meet the threshold for problem gambling, double the national average. Recent reporting indicates the Silver State gets more than $15 billion in gambling revenue, while allocating just $2 million to gambling addiction treatment. So beware if you are just getting into sports gambling.
With sports betting the results are often unpredictable which makes for high-risk and high-reward.
Here in Reno, sports betting aficionados go from their phones and desktops to sports books at local casinos in a whirlwind of gambling opportunities.
People who are addicted have a “we’ll get them next time” mindset where they often don’t give up on betting after losing but rather double down.
This form of addiction can affect those who have fallen victim to compulsive betting, as well as loved ones around them too, who may see this change.
Gambling addiction is real, and can cost a person financially for life. Someone who is addicted may not admit it to themselves or may not want to change.
Jerald Clements is a resident who just recently moved to Reno. Despite the dangers, he often participates in sports betting and says he still has fun with the thrill. He is well aware of the time worn advice of never betting on a team you love, even if he doesn’t always follow this.
“I really enjoy betting, but my one regret is that 90% of the time I bet with my head. When it comes to the Super Bowl or my favorite team, I tend to bet with my heart and that's when I lose money the most,” Clements admitted.
In this Sunday’s Super Bowl, it will be the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots.
Weirder bets include what color the Gatorade bath will be (lime/yellow/green is favored but you can put your money on purple or blue) and whether there will be a field streaker or marriage proposal.
Jason Chen is a Reno native and former student at UNR, who is a massive Seahawks fan. For this Super Bowl, in terms of betting, he’s being cautious.
“I probably won’t bet, because the underdogs have lately been the ones that came out on top, and the Seahawks are not the underdogs,” Chen said. As of this writing the Seahawks are 4.5 point favorites.
Are you betting in any way on this game, just watching or avoiding the game entirely?
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