Michigan Kicks Off Super Bowl Betting Season with Gambling Tips
Just in time for the Super Bowl, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has put out a news release that urges state residents to bet responsibly on the game. How can residents do that? By deciding whether, when and how much to wager on the game when they visit a casino or sports book or make a bet online, according to the news release.
“Gambling should be entertainment. It’s important to set limits before you place any wager on the Super Bowl or any other sporting event. Establish amount and time limits to help ensure you can have fun without gambling more than you can afford to lose,” said Henry Williams, the MGCB’s executive director.
Responsible Gaming
The news release lists seven responsible gambling tips for the Super Bowl put together by the Massachusetts-based International Center for Responsible Gaming. Here are those tips:
— Personal choice. Don’t allow yourself to feel pressured to gamble for social acceptance.
— Not essential for fun with friends: Don’t view gambling as necessary for having fun and being with friends.
— Preset loss limits: Only gamble what you can afford to lose and know when to stop.
— Don’t borrow money: It’s a risky plan to borrow money from a friend, relative or other source you can’t afford to pay back unless you win.
— Don’t chase losses: You can’t guarantee you’ll regain previous losses through more gambling.
— Avoid gambling in high-risk situations: If you are lonely, angry, depressed, under stress, coping with the death of a loved one, in recovery for addictions, trying to impress others or seeking to solve personal or family problems, you should avoid gambling.
— Avoid risky combinations: Excessive alcohol use can affect judgment and lead to impulsive gambling.
If a Michigan resident is betting on the Super Bowl online, the MGCB news release says, limits can be set on deposits, wagers and the time spent on each gambling website authorized by the state. Self-imposed limits can be changed with 24 hours notice. Gambling self-exclusion on the game can be imposed by bettors on gambling websites and on the MGCB’s website.
Identity Theft
The news release cautions Michigan residents about unlicensed sports gambling websites, saying they put users at risk for identity theft, deposit losses and unpaid winnings. The MGCB website has a list of state-licensed online sports betting providers and a sports wagering catalog for information on legal leagues and bets.
The purpose of the Michigan Gaming Control Board is to “ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the State of Michigan.”
Early Super Bowl odds by FanDuel Sports Book have the Philadelphia Eagles a 1.5-point favorite over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Feb. 12 games with 49.5 points as the over/under total. FanDuel favorites to be the Super Bowl MVP are KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+120) and Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts (+125).
