Submitted by Susan L. Jenkins
(March 2013) The NCAA Basketball Tournament, known around the world as “March Madness” starts on March 19 and runs into April. This national basketball tournament is a time of widespread betting, and, in fact, the betting during March Madness is now greater than the betting that goes on around the super bowl.
Legal betting on March Madness is estimated to be more than $250 million dollars. Gambling analysts estimate that more than $12 billion dollars is wagered illegally, including on the job. Some studies suggest that lost productivity at work during the tournament will top $1 billion dollars.
Many, if not most, view sports betting as harmless fun, but for some this activity is part of a serious gambling problem. Although sports betting is currently illegal in every state but Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon, a significant percentage of the workforce reports betting at work. Employees are spending time talking about and placing bets at the workplace. With many employees seated at a computer all day, they are able to watch the games online and monitor the point spread from their desks. Instead of attending to calls that need to be made or work that needs to be done, the employee is focused on how his or her team is doing.
Most employers do not have written policies about gambling at the workplace whether it is the sports betting that is out in the open with the March Madness office pool or the more discreet wagering that is going on over the internet. Online gambling is very prevalent and may be going on without an employer being aware. Employers are encouraged to treat gambling as an unacceptable workplace activity and should consider policies to prevent gambling at the workplace.
How do you know if gambling is a problem for an employee in your workplace?
Does the employee spend excessive time away from their job or desk? Has productivity or deadlines suffered? This may result from extended use of the telephone or internet to place bets or to check results while pretending to work.
Does the employee take unusual amounts of sick time? The compulsive gambler often suffers from depression, hypertension, ulcers or other health problems.
Does the employee routinely arrive late, leave early, take long lunches or breaks, or experience difficulties remaining in scheduled work meetings or locations?
Does the employee talk or worry about money problems or experience financial problems resulting in requests for cash advances or loans from fellow employees and/or the employer?
These and other behaviors can be signs of a gambling problem. If an employee comes to you because of a gambling problem, help is available. There are several treatment programs in the Central New York region for problem gamblers.
For information about those resources, you can call the 24 hour Helpline at 1-877-8HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or call BRiDGES at 697-3947.
Susan L. Jenkins is the executive director of BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Sure, everyone loves to gamble . . . if they win. But, the person sitting next to you in church, the man in line at the grocery store, or one of your co-workers; any one of these could be involved with a gambling problem. Imagine your grandmother committing a crime to support her gambling addiction. I am a recovering alcoholic, gambler, and have recovered from other addictive behaviors. I published a book, Gripped by Gambling, where the readers can follow the destructive path of the compulsive gambler, a prison sentence, and then on to the recovery road.
I also publish a free online newsletter, Women Helping Women, which has been on-line for more than twelve years and is read by hundreds of women (and men) from around the world. (www.femalegamblers.info). I have been interviewed many times, and appeared on the 60 Minutes show in January 2011, which was moderated by Leslie Stahl.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot