Super Bowl LV To See Increased Betting In Pacific Northwest – KXL

Sports betting wasn’t even legal in Oregon the last time the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl over a decade ago. Fast forward and Seattle is once again looking for a championship.

Greta Coe with the Oregon Health Authority says what addicting factors there are within sports gambling, which will be heightened on Sunday as the Hawks face the Patriots in Super Bowl LV.

“What makes it slightly more harmful is the micro betting or live betting that can occur,” Coe said. “Placing rapid wagers on numerous small events in a game.”

Betting sites opened up for business ahead of this Sunday’s Super Bowl earlier this week. Oregonians contributed over 8-million dollars during last year’s big game and the Lottery forecasts that record to be shattered with the Seahawks in the big game this season.

“It’s important to weigh the risk before participating,” Coe said. “There’s potential for addiction, severe financial losses, including debt, and adverse mental health effects like anxiety, depression, and stress when you do participate.”

Coe also says OHA’s Behavior Health Division offers innovative tools and support for those who need it.

FROM OHA​

Publicly funded treatment and counseling services are available free to any Oregon resident who is suffering from gambling related harms, either as:

• An individual with a problem with gambling, or
• A concerned other (people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s gambling problem, such as family, friends, significant others, and colleagues).​

Problem Gam​​​​bling Helpline

• Call 1-877- My Limit (1-877-695-4648) or
• Get help by Instant Messaging/Chat/Email
• Es: 1-844-TU VALES

Help is free, confidential, and it works.​  Change starts here.