Nebraska’s problem gambling council is urging football fans to think carefully before they bet as college football begins and the NFL regular season draws near. The advice is straightforward: decide in advance how much time, energy and money you are willing to spend, and do not let wagering take over the season.
Mike Sciandra, the executive director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, told PlayUSA that football season can be especially difficult for people already struggling with responsible gambling. He said constantly thinking about betting, gambling more often, or trying to win back previous losses are warning signs, and that needing to bet more and more often to get the same excitement is another red flag. In his words, trying to recover losses is “chasing.”
Sciandra also pointed to anxiety, irritability and financial or work-related problems as signs that gambling may be becoming harmful. He said the warning to bettors heading into football season is less about avoiding sports and more about keeping gambling from taking over the experience. He has described gambling’s growing normalization as one reason people need to recognise the signs in themselves and others, and has said he can now enjoy sports without worrying about the financial side of it.
Sciandra has also said he is a problem gambler in recovery and has been bet-free since December 14, 2020.
The Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program offers free, confidential treatment, and its hotline, 1-833-BET-OVER, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 3NewsNow reported that Nebraska was seeing a record number of people seeking help for problem gambling and that use of the program had risen 30% over the previous two years.
The council says it takes a neutral stance on legal gambling and focuses on prevention and connecting people to help. Sciandra has also said he works with about 20 colleges across the state, where gambling is increasingly being seen as a growing concern, and that younger people face greater risk because gambling has become so normalized in culture.
