Gambling on college sports can have consequences

(ARA) - The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tips off March 18. And while the 64 qualifying teams hope to make the Final Four, the rest of the country will follow the tournament through brackets illegally completed on college campuses, in office buildings and in sports bars.

According to Tim Otteman, a Central Michigan University faculty member and an internationally known expert on sports related gambling, the NCAA Tournament creates the perfect storm for gambling on college campuses throughout the country. Because of the popularity of intercollegiate athletics and the passion of college basketball fans, the tournament is fervently followed by millions of Americans each year.

As the college basketball regular season winds down, conference tournaments ramp up to determine which teams get chosen for the "Big Dance." Recent research has uncovered that more than 25 percent of the American workforce will complete a bracket for the NCAA Tournament.

Brackets for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament are often viewed as harmless fun. But the reality is all sports gambling is illegal, except in Nevada and grandfathered exceptions in Oregon, Montana and Delaware. Around $90 million will legally be wagered in Las Vegas on this year's NCAA Tournament alone. With the majority of brackets costing $5 to $25 to participate, illegal gambling on this year's event could top $2.5 billion, says Otteman.

Results from Otteman's recent research on sports gambling by college students reveals that first experiences with sports gambling occur by completing brackets for the NCAA Tournament or pro football games. In an overwhelming majority of cases, these novice gamblers were introduced to these activities in school settings by their friends or in the home by male authority figures such as their father or uncles.

Many also gamble on the NCAA Tournament due to the fact that you can bet with very limited sports knowledge and can wager fairly small amounts of money with large payouts. Everyone seems to know a story like the person who won their office pool by picking teams by the color of the uniforms. These types of gamblers include nonstereotypical sports bettors including adolescents and women, Otteman says.

But, according to Otteman, maybe the most important reason that people wager on sports is because of the excitement created by the bet. There is a desire to have a stake in the game and have something to root for. This is why betting on sports in general, and brackets specifically, can be a risky proposition. This seemingly innocent activity can spark a rush that leads to further involvement in sports gambling.

Betting on any form of sports can have dangerous consequences. Something simple, like completing a $10 bracket, might be the start of a behavior that could lead to addiction; no one becomes an alcoholic without taking a first drink. No one becomes addicted to gambling without making that first bet either, says Otteman.

Otteman recommends people enjoy the NCAA Tournament. As a sports fan, it is one of the greatest events of the year. The incredible athleticism and competition, Cinderella stories of the underdogs, and the inevitable upsets all create an exciting three weeks of intercollegiate sports. But don't bet on the games - it's just not worth the gamble.

Courtesy of ARAcontent