That’s not reality.

[mouakter13]

Professional leagues have partnered with betting apps to take more money from the middle and working-class fan base. In 2024, the sports betting industry made $13.71 billion in revenue.

Wealthy people do place massive bets and contribute a substantial amount of total loss, but the pain will be most felt by those who can’t afford it. It’s Clark Griswold on his Vegas vacation digging deeper and deeper into debt. We laugh at his tragic flaw taking hold and tanking the family’s finances. But it’s a comedy and a Good Samaritan passes along country wise email marketing list his winning ticket before dying.


I picture a reality more like the film “Boiler Room,” when the victims of Wall Street action junkies become real in the face of Harry Renard who, after trusting the protagonist with money that was supposed to go toward a home, is on the floor, broken, as his family walks out. He was manipulated by the smooth-talking Seth into gambling his savings on a stock expectedly tanked. The money is gone. In the end Vin Diesel’s character signs a sell ticket to get his money back but even if Harry is financially back at even, the family will be forever changed.

Life isn’t Hollywood, and much of the $3.1 billion bet on the NCAA tournament this year will evaporate from the pockets of those who can’t afford the hit but will try again during the NBA Playoffs.