Ep. 63 - Sports Betting: A Hidden Problem on Campuses
Saul Malek grew up betting on fantasy baseball. He says it was “part of my life” and “what tied my group of friends together.” In college, when a friend suggested they bet on sports with a bookie, he didn’t think much about it before saying, “I’m in.”
Saul’s experience is pretty typical. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 67% of college students gamble on sports. They also tell us that youth rates of being at-risk for problem gambling are 2 to 3 times higher than adult rates. Saul is one of those students who developed a gambling problem.
In episode 63 of our podcast, Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, Saul joins us to talk about his experiences with sports betting.
Listen now and hear about:
How Saul’s betting increased in less than a year from wagering on a couple of games to 150 bets a week
How gambling problems stay hidden - from yourself, from others, and on campuses
What helped Saul to recognize and accept that sports betting was out of control for him (and what he did about it)
Listen now to episode 63 of Fold em by clicking on the green play button at the top of the blog.
If you prefer to tune in directly from Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, click on the red “Listen and Subscribe” button below.
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 6% of college students in the U.S. have a serious gambling problem.*
Here’s the Problem - If Gambling Gets Out of Hand it is Often Hidden
In this episode of Fold em, Saul Malek tells us that he had checks and balances in place to catch a gambling problem. While he was in college, his Mother had access to his bank accounts and asked him about the increase in deposits and withdrawals for sports betting. He also only had limited access to money while at school. Saul also says that he knew something about gambling responsiblly and he assured his Mother that he was tracking wins and losses and only gambling occasionally.
However, even though these checks and balances were in place, there were definite signs that his betting was ramping up.
Looking back, here’s what Saul now sees were signs that his gambling was a problem only three months after starting to bet on sports:
Feeling anxious and frustrated when he missed a deadline to place a bet
Distracted from day-to-day life as he focused on planning and following bets
Family and friends expressed concern and frustration about his gambling
My colleague Allison Rice says that gambling problems are very “predictable.” They play out in common ways. One of these predictable features of gambling getting out of control is that the person who gambles is “captured” by gambling. They often won’t see or be willing to accept that their gambling is causing problems for themself or others. And, even when this is pointed out to them, they typically won’t be willing to do much different. Or if they do, it is done for the benefit of others and without much effort.
Looking back, here’s what Saul now sees got in the way of him acknowledging that his gambling was a problem:
Even after losing a bet, his mind focused on previous wins and winning streaks. Saul says, “I loved winning. It was so much fun. I felt so in control after winning when the bookies had to pay me out.”
There is so much online access to betting 24-7 (e.g. world wide markets, live betting) and access to credit. It made it hard to pause and take a bigger look at the impact of gambling on his life.
When gambling gets out of hand, it is often fulfilling another need for you. Saul says that gambling gave him a sense of control, a boost of self-esteem and distraction at a time is his life when he was feeling pressure and that he was not measuring up.
You can get fooled into believing that you are in control. You might tell yourself that you can easily take a break. Or, have an image in your head of what gambling addiction looks like and it doesn’t fit with you. Or, maybe you’re going to Gamblers Anonymous meeting like your parents asked, so you’re ok.
So, What’s the Solution if Gambling is a Hidden Problem?
In this episode of Fold em, Saul tells us that sports betting had an increasing negative impact on him and his life over the course of a year. As the months passed, he noticed that even when he won he felt stressed out and terrified because he knew he couldn’t stop. All his money, including the money from wins, would end up going back to betting. Saul says that he was also getting into more risky situations and seeking out bookies he normally wouldn’t use in order to get access to credit.
This is what helped Saul to see and accept that gambling was a problem for him:
After a mentor questioned why he was taking time away from his studies to work a part-time job, Saul realized that all of his earnings from this job were going to pay off gambling debt.
He noticed that he never walked away with money from wins - it went back into gambling. “I stopped believing that I could be a winner from sports betting.”
He also acknowledged that strategies he tried on his own to stop gambling didn’t stick, e.g. setting a day for his last bet and putting a reminder of this on his phone.
This is what helped Saul to stop betting and stay stopped:
Taking an honest look at gambling in his life: Through Gamblers Anonymous, Saul did some writing exercises that got him to reflect on his gambling habits and the impact it had on him, others and his life. This helped him to think about gambling more clearly and stay stopped.
Being around people who understand: Saul says that he eventually took GA meetings more seriously. When he did, it helped to be around people who understand the issue from personal experience and who offered hope and guidance.
Staying consistent: attending GA meetings regularly provided a structure that helped Saul to stay away from gambling for nearly five years. It also helped to talk about challenges that came up during this time, such as dealing with boredom and triggers.
Helping others: Saul decided to talk publicly about his struggles with gambling. We don’t all have to become public speakers but finding ways to help others can firm up your commitement to stay on track.
If you would like to hear more about Saul’s experiences with sports betting, what helped him to recognize that it was a problem, and what helped him to step back, listen to Episode 63 of Fold em. Click on the green play button at the top of this blog or on the red “Listen Now to Fold em” at the bottom of this blog.
Want to Connect With Saul?
To hear more from Saul about his experiences with overcoming a problem with sports betting, visit his website at www.saulmalek.com.
What Support is Available to Help Me or a Loved One With Gambling Concerns?
For Residents of British Columbia:
Gambling Support BC
If you live in British Columbia, you can connect with Gambling Outreach Support anytime. To do so, click on the red “Connect with Support in BC” button below. Or, go to the Gambling Support BC website. You can also access these services through the Gambling Support Line. It is available 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111.
Gambling Support BC services are available to any British Columbia resident experiencing problems from gambling. You don’t need to stop or quit gambling or be self-excluded to access these free supports.
Our counselling and outreach services can help you figure out how to manage gambling concerns, including how to control or stop gambling. You decide what will work for you.
You can talk to an outreach support person about next steps for yourself if you aren’t wanting counselling. They can help you find self-help resources or local community resources and make a plan that meets you where you are at.
Outside of British Columbia
Canada: www.gamblingguidelines.ca/getting-help
United States: National Council on Problem Gambling
United Kingdom: GamCare
Australia: Gamblers’ Help
If you live outside of these countries, search online for “Gambling Help” in your country
Online Support and Meetings:
Gamblers Anonymous and GamAnon
GamTalk (online chat forum)
To learn more about gambling concerns and how to access resources and support, go to the home page of this website, click on the red “Learn More” button below, or connect with us through Facebook.
Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC. We welcome your feedback and ideas for topics for upcoming episodes. Reach out through the Contact Us page on this website or through email at Foldempodcast@gmail.com.