MPR News with Angela Davis

Sports betting is growing, along with problem gambling

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday

Sports Betting
FanDuel, DraftKings and other online gambling apps are displayed on a phone.
Jeff Chiu

March Madness kicks off Sunday with the selection of college basketball teams that will play in the 2025 NCAA tournament.

In addition to watching the games over the next few weeks, millions of Americans will be betting on them.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018, nearly 40 states have legalized some form of sports wagering. It’s not legal in Minnesota, but many people in the state still stake money on office pools, in online fantasy sports or by driving to a border state to place a bet.  

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the growing culture of sports betting and the rise of gambling problems, especially among young men.   

And we want to hear from you, too.  

Do you place bets on sports? What do you get out of it? If you or someone you care about has spent too much time and money on sports betting, how has that affected you?

Call us during the 9 a.m. hour at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828.   

Guests:

  • Jason Kido Lopez is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He studies and writes about sports entertainment and sports betting and is the author of “Redefining Sports Media.”  

  • Lisa Vig-Johnson is a gambling addiction counselor in Fargo, North Dakota. She is the gambling disorders clinical lead for the state of North Dakota’s Department of Health and Human Services and provides services for Minnesota residents through Soul Solutions Recovery Center in Moorhead, Minn.  

If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, you can find help through the Minnesota Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-333-4673 (HOPE) or by texting HOPE to 53342. You can find other resources online at The Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling.


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