Ep. 45 - Sports Betting: The Downside of Getting Into the Action

Joel is a successful and hard-working business man in California. He also has been an avid (and compulsive) sports better for the past 35-years. Joel is seriously concerned about the expansion of sports gambling into live betting (gambling that occurs after the game has started) and the increase in websites and apps to place a bet. He sees all the advertisements for sports betting and the free play offers encouraging people to give it a try and he shakes his head. Joel knows from personal experience that some people will get sucked in and it will be devastating for them. He’s speaking up and sharing his story to try and stop the legalization of sports betting and protect more people from what he has gone through.

Hear my conversation with Joel Soper in episode 45 of our podcast, Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems. He is the author of Never Enough Zeroes.

Tune in to episode 45 to learn about:

• Joel’s experiences with compulsive gambling

• What makes it hard to pull away from sports betting once you’re in action

• Ideas for helping you to pull away from problem gambling

• Why the legalization of sports betting in many American states and the expansion of the industry is something to be concerned about

Listen now to episode 45 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.

“Once you cross the threshhold into live betting, it’s very dangerous” Joel Soper

Sports Betting - Joel’s Story

In this episode of Fold em, Joel tells us that he started working with bookies when he was 15-years old. It seemed pretty exciting at the time as he snuck into racetracks and experienced the thrill of a win. For him, as with many others, it became a lifestyle and an obsession, particularly as he was able to bet more easily on his devices and then, make in-game bets.

Joel says that the impact of gambling on him and his life, “was devastating'“. Although he worked extremely hard to develop a successful business, the earnings and profits from selling the business were lost to gambling. It led to jail time after he stole to gamble and lost relationships because of the chaos of a life that is focused on gambling.

Joel tells us that he’s recently been rebuilding his life in Los Angeles and that focusing on this, along with connecting with a therapist (Dan Fields) and getting into routines with prayer and exercise has helped. He also tells it straight and says it’s not easy to stop once sports betting is a lifestyle. Joel continues to get pulled into the rollercoaster of compulsive gambling.

What Makes it Hard to Pull Away From Sports Action?

Joel offers his experiences as a warning to those who are thinking about trying sports betting or in the early days with it. He also hopes to reach out to the politicians who are voting yes to legalizing sports betting. Some gamblers, he says, will get sucked in and find it very difficult to pull back.

Here’s what Joel shared about what makes it hard to pull away from sports action:

1. The high of being in action

Joel describes the high he gets from planning a bet and going through the rollercoast of watching the game as being unlike anything else in his life. The excitement of watching sports and betting on sports are tied together. If there is a win, it feels euphoric. If there is a lose, the competitive drive to win it back is pretty consuming. When you’re used to being in action, it’s hard to step into a life without it.

2. Betting Becomes a Lifestyle

Joel says that for many years his routine was to start his day with a coffee, bagel and a bet (or two). When sports betting becomes compuslive, it becomes your focus 24-7 and habits around it get set. As humans, once something becomes a routine and a habit, it’s challenging to break out of it.

3. Chasing the Memories of Past Wins

Joel tells us that all sports betters have strong memories of past wins. Maybe it was one game or a streak of wins. You felt great and life was great. Those memories call out to you, “I can experience that again.” And, especially if life is stressful, the dream of how great life will be when you win like that again call out to you. It’s really hard to stop gambling when those wins are calling you.

4. Competitive Edge and the Ego

Joel says that from his experience, most sports betters are pretty competitive and have a strong ego. When there is a loss, they don’t just let it slide by. Anger kicks in and says, “I want my money back!” This competitive edge not only keeps you in the game, but makes it hard to walk away and stay away, especially if you’re down financially.

What Can Help You Pull Back From Sports Betting

Joel tells us that he’s had some recent periods in his life when he didn’t bet at all. The challenge, he notes, is staying on track with that. His current efforts to speak out against the expansion in the sports betting industry and share his experiences to help others, is helping him to get some space between him and bet.

Here’s what Joel suggests can be helpful for pulling back from sports betting:

• Get some guidance: connect with Gamblers’ Anonymous meetings, a therapist, or a sports betting consultant who understands gambling problems. Joel connected with Dan Fields in California

• Connect to a higher power: find ways to regularly pause, connect with a religious or spiritual practice, and ask for help from your higher power. Joel says that praying at a synagogue was helpful for him.

• Focus on something else: target your energy on something else and create daily routines around this. Joel says that starting a new business kept his mind busy and playing tennis and working out was a place to channel his energy.

• Open up: Joel decided to share his story in his book, “Never Enough Zeroes.” You don’t have to write a book but find somewhere to share more openly about gambling issues. Breaking the isolation and getting thoughts out of your head can help you to see things differently.

• Catch slips early and get back on track: if you have a slip, get yourself back on track as fast as possible. The habits and routines around gambling are pretty compelling so try to avoid getting too far in again.

If you would like to hear more from Joel, listen to episode 45 of Fold em and read his book, “Never Enough Zeroes.”

Listen now by clicking on the green play button at the top of this blog or the red “Listen and Subscribe to Fold em” button below.

Check out other episodes of Fold em and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out when new ones are released.

Want to Connect With Support and Counselling in British Columbia?

If you live in British Columbia and would like to learn more about free, confidential support and counselling services from Gambling Support BC, click on the red “Connect with Support in BC” button below. Or, go to the Gambling Support BC website. You can also access our 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.

Want to Connect With Support and Counselling in the Rest of Canada and the United States?

For a list of gambling help services in Canada, visit www.gamblingguidelines.ca/getting-help

To find gambling help resources in the United States, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling

Fold em is a podcast hosted by Adrienne Cossom and her colleagues at Gambling Support BC. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or supporting a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it and get tips from counsellors. Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.

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.