In 2023, Americans wagered approximately $15.5 billion on the men’s NCAA Tournament from a record 68 million people who either placed bets or participated in bracket contests.
March Madness has been a staple in American sports culture but the emergence of regulated sports betting across the country has led to calls for responsible gambling.
“While most can place bets without it becoming an addiction, between 2-4 million Americans will experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime, likely more, considering this data is often outdated and suffers from insufficient funding from comprehensive research. Existing studies offer only a superficial understanding of the problem,” said Dr. James P. Whelan, Ph.D., Professor & Director at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research.
The willingness to address these issues comes during Problem G..