Betting Forum Sports: Young people betting on sports

Betting Forum Sports: Young people betting on sports

By KEVIN TRESOLINI
The News Journal
Delaware is home to only one professional sports franchise -- a minor-league baseball team -- and University of Delaware football is the only college team that draws large crowds.
But that does not tell the whole story about Delawareans' interest in sports.
Last year, when the Phillies marched toward the World Series title, it seemed everyone was wearing red. And that provided only temporary respite to the usual fall obsession, the Eagles.
This rabid allegiance to sports teams is maybe best seen on college campuses, where football and basketball teams move students to shave their heads, paint their bodies and brave subfreezing temperatures with no shirts.
On any given night, large-screen televisions in dormitory lounges at the University of Delaware are tuned to sports. Other students gather at campus bars and restaurants, where, for the past couple of weeks, the NCAA men's basketball tournament has brought in big crowds. Waitresses navigate tables of young fans in track jackets and team hats to deliver beer, chicken wings and the other necessities of a long
TV-watching encampment.
And many say their enjoyment of a game or passion for their team is raised when they have something riding on the outcome.
Sports betting was the fourth most popular form of gambling among participants in a survey of University of Delaware students released last month by the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, trailing only the lottery, card games and casinos.
Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed had wagered on sports at least once, and 15 percent had gambled on sports in the previous year.
"I place bets with my friends a lot, especially now with the NCAA tournament going on," said UD student Jason Dague, 22, of Hershey, Pa. "I think I'm in about three different pools with people and I've spent probably around $70 or so on the brackets."
The urge to make some money because of one's supposed knowledge of sports can be strong, which may help explain the logic behind Gov. Jack Markell's proposal to re-institute sports betting in Delaware.
As the only state east of Nevada that can legalize sports betting, Markell sees it as a way to draw sports fans into the state and boost its sagging economy.
Markell hopes sports bettors also will spend money on slot machines, hotels, restaurants and other attractions.
"Legalized betting in Delaware is definitely a good thing," Dague said, "especially since it'll raise money for the state. It's also good for bettors, because it's organized and all set up for you. I still like betting among friends, but having that option is good, too."
"Legalized betting would definitely be great for people who do bet, as long as everything was controlled and regulated by the casinos," said UD student Matt Groth, 19, of Audubon, Pa.


Betting Forum Sports: Young people betting on sports