Jon Batiste OVER 120.5 seconds.
Coin flip HEADS. Dallas Goedert Anytime TD.
Jalen Hurts OVER 199.5 pass yards.
Saquon Barkley anytime touchdown.
Samaje Perine OVER 7.5 rec yards.
Xavier Worthy OVER 39.5 rec yards.
If these all hit, I’m done.
Many Marksmen have taken up the pastime of casual sports betting and poker as forms of entertainment. Though illegal in Texas, the latest trend in the sports betting industry utilizes apps that incentivize parlays, in which bets are combined for a larger total profit if all legs hit. However, in addition to the fact that these bets are unlikely to happen, they also have extremely low minimum bets limits relative to their payouts, acting as a ‘gateway drug’ to larger bets.
For a recent alum who requested anonymity, gambling is an enjoyable pastime that is conducive to bonding and casual fun, as he mostly avoids sports betting in favor of in-person gambling. Having played casino games before, he saw them differently when he was old enough to be immersed in their formal setting.
“Blackjack in the casino was different from what I expected, you have to be quick with it, otherwise the dealers are going to get annoyed, and they kind of put pressure on you, so you have to be quick,” he said. “When I was playing poker, it was definitely a little different, because I yelled across the table, but other than that, it was pretty similar.”
The adult allure of gambling, especially in casinos, is just another way that people can get started gambling. The feelings of mature sophistication reinforce a positive feedback loop of continued engagement with the activity.
“It felt like I was an adult because in casinos, no underage kids are allowed in there,” he said. “So it was finally something that made me feel exclusively like an adult, like a professional.”
His casino experience helped him to bond him with his stepfather as an adult in a more mature setting. They always possessed a close relationship, but their shared trip brought them even closer together.
“We both had a great time and it was definitely a different kind of experience,” he said.
Now in college, he plays poker with his fraternity at least once a week, interspersed with casino trips.
“When I go back home for summer, I’ll probably end up in Oklahoma at one point for like a day, but that’s about it,” he said. “I really don’t see myself going to spend my paycheck at a casino trying to make a quick buck. I’m pretty safe with my money and I know the value of a dollar and I know how quickly it can be gone.”
With his more frequent gambling ventures, his education through the thorough Health and Wellness Program under Upper School Counselor Dr. Mary Bonsu has allowed him to remain vigilant against the dangers of addiction.
“The reward cycle of dopamine in the brain is wired such that the brain does things that are rewarding. The frontal lobe’s job is to signal when you’ve had enough, or when you’re satiated by the rewards,” Bonsu said. “If part of the brain isn’t functioning or fully developed, oftentimes you’ll see an overlap between prefrontal cortex development issues and addictions.”
For some individuals, particularly those with developmental challenges like ADHD or autism, this impaired regulatory function causes vulnerability to addictive behaviors, such as gambling or drug usage.
Lack of self-control becomes evident in real-world scenarios where shared resources are siphoned by addictions and relationships are severely strained or destroyed.
“A common misconception is just looking at the spread or betting on the over or under, and believing that it’s not gambling,” Bonsu said. “It’s just playing the odds. It’s a slippery slope, from playing the odds and statistics, which could be fun, to developing a problem.”
These enticing bets are all designed to draw as much money from the user as possible, and when combined with the addictive qualities of technology, they can be nearly impossible to resist.
“With technology, it’s really hard to snap out of the trance,” Bonsu said. “It’s right in your face, you can be instantly immersed, whereas in person, you can go outside, you can kind of take a break from that sensory overload.”
Both casinos and online gambling websites are designed to fully direct their participants’ attention towards the cards on the table or the numbers on the screen, churning out as many hands or games per hour as possible.
“I’ve seen kids run up credit cards into the tens of thousands on bets,” Bonsu said. “That’s harmful to their parents and their relationships. This is something that cannot be stopped or regulated by another person. They have a hard time quitting, or turning it off.”
These relationships are further strained by never ending cycles of deceit and hiding losses from loved ones which leads to shame and more lies.
“No one wants to admit that they are addicted,” Bonsu said. “Many folks assume that willpower lets them stop, but when those things don’t work, there is a sense of shame that distances us from our loved ones.”
Bonsu has cemented herself as a member of the community that is there to help and provide the necessary resources for those who struggle or are susceptible to addiction.
“I think schools should provide education and resources to students so they know what’s happening in their brains,” Bonsu said. “What can be the signs of addictions, so they can be better informed on recognizing whether they are addicted or whether a friend is, and I think the community should provide resources for people who are looking for help in getting out of an addictive activity like gambling.”
