I will admit it – I have been spending a decent amount of time watching football recently. And who can blame me? There have been entertaining and surprising games every weekend, but one of the biggest surprises for me didn’t take place on the field. It happened during the commercial breaks – over, and over, and over. Another admission…I do not watch a lot of traditional television. So, it’s entirely possible I am just missing the massive amount of sports betting commercials on tv. It’s so prevalent that online betting is even included in the pregame shows with the commentators.
Sports betting, in it’s current form, really dates back to 2018 and a decision made by the Supreme Court. Since then, it has been adopted in different ways, shapes, and forms by many states, including Iowa. It is probably too early to understand the impact; however, there are some early results and plenty of resources available for those experiencing a challenge with sports betting, and gambling, in general.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission provides oversight for the state’s gambling activities, while the Iowa Department of Public Health provides treatment and prevention services. Workers with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may have access to counseling services for those experiencing a challenge with gambling. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not cover gambling-specific topics, but we do have a wide variety of financial education topics for Iowans in need!
