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A record 31.5 millions Americans plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, according to estimates released by the gambling industry's national trade group.
According to AP news, the American Gaming Association forecasts that over $7.6 billion will be wagered on pro football's championship game. Both the amount of people planning to bet and the estimated amount of money being are new records.
Bettors include people making casual wagers with friends or relative, entries into office pools, wagers with licensed sportsbooks, and bets placed with illegal bookmakers. When the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals begin the game Sunday evening, 30 states plus Washington D.C. will offer legal gambling.
Since last year's game, 45 million additional people will be able to bet on the Super Bowl because their states have legalized sports betting over the past year. The Super Bowl is also one of the most perilous times of year for people with a gambling problem. Legal sports betting is increasing a public health crisis in America involving problem gambling.
"One out of two people struggling with a gambling problem contemplates suicide, and one out of five will attempt suicide. I am one of those one out of five. No longer is gambling limited to who is going to win the game. Now gambling is on every play. Keep them gambling, keep chasing action." said Harry Levant, a public health advocate from Philadelphia, and a recovering gambling addict.
There is a national help line for people with gambling problem, or who think they might have one: 1-800-GAMBLER