March madness does, in fact continue tonight with the first four games of the men's sweet 16 already underway and whether it's just water cooler bracket or maybe something more formal. The American Gaming Association estimates about $2.5 billion will be bet between the men's and women's basketball tournaments. This year when it comes to sports betting, a lot of course has changed just even in the last six years. In 2018, Nevada was actually the only state where it was legal. But now thanks to a
Supreme Court decision. That's true in 38 states and DC, including all of Minnesota's neighbors. But lawmakers say the odds are looking pretty good for a deal to pass this legislative session. There's bipartisan support for a senate bill that would increase taxes on sports betting proceeds. And so all of that tax revenue would then go towards things like the racing commission, charity and gambling treatment centers. No matter what happens though, mental health advocates argue safeguards are nece
ssary to combat the real problems that some Minnesotans face when it comes to gambling addiction. Or Kent Erdal spoke to one about the moment when he knew that he hit rock bottom. Hail Mary Pass is one step away from you doing no victory day. For years, our national airwaves have been open to ads that go all in to promote sports betting apps. But with more legislators open to the idea of legalization here, it's worth remembering. The reality is a lot less glamorous. Whatever you make in a year,
you can lose it at night. I don't think people really realize like, how much it can take away real quick. Austin Strom says the day he turned 18, he spent 13 hours playing casino games, but he didn't realize the depth of his addiction until he started using sports betting apps. I think it was just having it right at my fingertips. You didn't really have to leave to do anything. It was all just right there in front of you. The legalization has the potential to put that problem in the hands of eve
n more. Minnesotans. Austin says he can't pretend like prohibition did anything to stop him. I feel like if they want to gamble, right? Like they have the resources to do it at this point anyways, whether it's through the legal way or in the legal way, they're gonna find a way, right? I think it's really comes down to is making sure you the people that are doing it are educated and understand like how quickly things can go wrong. The Minnesota alliance on problem gambling has been working to wea
ve that education into the House and Senate sports betting bills. Each of the bills from, from our point of view are including some consumer protections. Executive director, Susan Sheridan Tucker says 250,000 Minnesotans already identify as problem gamblers and 56,000 would likely be diagnosed with a gambling addiction. But with just 19 licensed therapists, very few of them are getting help. We only treat about 100 to 100 and 50 per year because this is a highly stigmatized addiction. We simply
don't talk about this. That's something a new ad campaign is working to address. And though the organization doesn't take a stand on the sports betting legislation, they know it would include money for more counselors and free treatment options. When a gambler finally comes to seek treatment, they are typically wiped out. They literally have no finances. What did it for you in terms of getting help? I think honestly, it was just finally getting to what you consider rock bottom. Like I lost every
thing I felt that was of value to me. Plus the people in my life that I lost. Austin says he's grateful to have found support at project turnabout in Granite Falls and he's now gone five months without placing a bet. How are you doing today? Oh, I'm doing great. I feel like my whole mindset. I'm just like, oh, look on life is just way more optimistic, I would say before I was kind of just whatever going through the motions. But now I actually like have hope for the future. Well, and certainly br
ave too to speak out. So we wanna thank Austin for doing that. If you are somebody, you know, has a problem with gambling, there are resources that are available. You can visit the Minnesota Alliance on problem gambling at mnapg.org. The Minnesota Department of Human Services also has a full list of providers on their.
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