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Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey Warning on Super Bowl Sunday

Local bookmakers are anticipating one of the largest betting days of the entire year. Over $4 billion will be bet illegally across America in Super Bowl XXXV. Millions of Giants fans from the Tri-State area will wager from a few bucks between friends to thousands of dollars with bookies as their favorite team plays the biggest game in ten years.

In Nevada, where sports betting is legal, an estimated $75-$80 million will be wagered, predicts Ed Looney, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

Over fifty percent of the calls to 1-800-GAMBLER the day after last year's Super Bowl came from family members seeking help and information for themselves and their gambler.

Compulsive gamblers who are unable to deal with their losses sometimes vent anger and frustration through emotional or physical abuse to loved ones. ``Typically associated with leisure and the gathering of friends, the Super Bowl could lead to pain, isolation, and financial devastation for some gamblers, as well as their family,'' states Looney.

Internet gambling is on the rise as a multi-billion dollar industry. Many will use the Internet this weekend as a means of getting in on the ``action.'' According to Deputy Director Kevin O'Neill, ``this year gamblers will have over 1,000 sites to choose from. It's becoming easier and easier for compulsive gamblers to lose their shirts online.''

Please contact the Council for referral services, which offer solutions for help. The Council's New Jersey 1-800-GAMBLER help line receives an increased number of calls in the weeks following the Super Bowl. The Council's premier website, www.800gambler.org, contains extensive information on gambling awareness, help resources, and a self-test, receiving 70,000 hits each month.

For more information, please contact

New Jersey Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER(TM)

National Helpline: 1-800-522-4700

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