Several NFL players have been suspended for betting on games, and some colleges that struck partnerships with sports leagues illegally marketed sports betting to students under the legal age of 21, prompting leagues and gambling companies to revise their policies. Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, says calls to the 800-GAMBLER help line have increased by 15% over the last five years as “states began the fastest and largest expansion of gambling in our history.” It’s also caused problems: Those treating compulsive gambling say calls to their hotlines seeking help have increased significantly in the five years since sports betting was legalized and made available on cell phones. Legalization of sports betting has opened up opportunities: additional tax revenue for states, a small auxiliary revenue stream for casinos and horse tracks, and a way to keep many people away from the dangers of unregulated offshore gambling web sites. Betting odds are now an integral part of broadcasts of many games. Since then, some once-unthinkable changes have happened: Professional sports leagues, which fought New Jersey tooth and nail right up to the Supreme Court in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to prevent legal betting, now partner with gambling companies, slather their ballparks with sports betting advertising and some even have betting outlets in their stadiums.
