March Madness Means More People Placing Bets

CREATED Mar. 14, 2013

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The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling is holding its annual conference in Green Bay the next two days discussing everything from treatment to new trends and with March Madness beginning next week, millions of people will be placing bets.

Luke Fritsche has participated in March Madness tournament pools since middle school and says putting money down adds excitement.

"It gives you a reason to watch the games outside of just watching your favorite teams. You can cheer for teams you never thought you'd be cheering," says Fritsche.

More than fifty million people are expected to place bets on March Madness, which is more than the Superbowl.

"I think that just about anybody who gets into sports at all usually fills out a pool," says Fritsche.

For Fritsche, this is the only thing he gambles on.

"March Madness is pretty much my one time of year to throw some money around," says Fritsche.

But gambling experts say that for some people, social sports betting may turn into a problem.

They'll start chasing those losses. If they lose the first round then they'll chase it and chase it and chase it, and at the end of this process they'll be in a little deeper than they intended to be and that is in and of itself a problem," says Jerry Bauerkemper, executive director at the Nebraska Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Experts like Bauerkemper are at the annual conference on problem gambling in Green Bay to share how gambling, including sports betting, affects different people.

"We want people to be aware that compulsive gambling is a problem, that help is available and how they can get that help," says Rose Gruber, executive director at the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. 

They say this is especially important today where gambling is everywhere.

"Anywhere you can place a bet or take risk, you can gamble," says Gruber.