No one has to tell this New Jersey dad of two that online sports betting can be dangerously addictive.
The 41-year-old North Jersey resident — who only wanted to be identified as Bob — told The Post he recently enrolled in Gamblers Anonymous after becoming obsessed with betting on football games from his smartphone.
“I bet more frequently’’ after it became legal in Jersey, Bob said.“I bet on 10 or 12 games a day instead of two or three,” he said.
“Sports betting now is so easy.”Bob told The Post he was placing $2,500 in bets a week on professional and college games.
“I would place bets on late games if the early games didn’t work out,” he confessed.
“Over time, you just keep losing. I’d say to myself, ‘Today is my lucky day. I’m going to kill it.’ But it doesn’t happen.
”Bob decided to call the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey’s 800-GAMBLER hotline for help and was referred to Gamblers Anonymous for treatment.
He has now gone to three meetings in person and also participates in conference calls by telephone.
“I haven’t gambled in four or five weeks,” he said.Bob said he now watches fewer sports games because “it can create a trigger” for him to bet again.
He said he doesn’t object to New York legalizing mobile sports betting — as long as it sets aside money to help compulsive gamblers.
The 41-year-old North Jersey resident — who only wanted to be identified as Bob — told The Post he recently enrolled in Gamblers Anonymous after becoming obsessed with betting on football games from his smartphone.
“I bet more frequently’’ after it became legal in Jersey, Bob said.“I bet on 10 or 12 games a day instead of two or three,” he said.
“Sports betting now is so easy.”Bob told The Post he was placing $2,500 in bets a week on professional and college games.
“I would place bets on late games if the early games didn’t work out,” he confessed.
“Over time, you just keep losing. I’d say to myself, ‘Today is my lucky day. I’m going to kill it.’ But it doesn’t happen.
”Bob decided to call the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey’s 800-GAMBLER hotline for help and was referred to Gamblers Anonymous for treatment.
He has now gone to three meetings in person and also participates in conference calls by telephone.
“I haven’t gambled in four or five weeks,” he said.Bob said he now watches fewer sports games because “it can create a trigger” for him to bet again.
He said he doesn’t object to New York legalizing mobile sports betting — as long as it sets aside money to help compulsive gamblers.
