[Washington = Toshinori Asai, Ryuji Suzuki]It was revealed that Ippei Mizuhara (39), who was an interpreter for Shohei Otani (29) of the Dodgers in the US Major League Baseball, was suspected of being involved in illegal gambling, causing a big impact on sports betting. There is interest. While many people enjoy gambling, the number of people suffering from severe gambling addiction is also increasing, and the dangers that lie in the ease of gambling are once again becoming an issue.
On the 21st, people were lining up to place bets at a sports betting ticket office in the center of Washington. Bet options include Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, professional soccer, NHL ice hockey, and college basketball.
People lining up at sports betting ticket machines in Washington, D.C., on the 21st (Photo by Toshinori Asai)
I entered by showing my ID to confirm my age, and when I stood in front of one of the dozen touch-panel ticket vending machines, I saw the games scheduled to be played that day. In the NBA, you can bet on nearly 20 items per game, including team wins and losses, point difference, “how many points will be scored within seconds of the start of the game,” and “how many points will a substitute player score?”
John Howe, who bet on basketball and rugby games, said, “It’s just part of sports, and I enjoy it casually.” Tariq, who comes almost every day, says, “Today I bet $300 (approximately 45,000 yen). I’ve won $8,000 and lost about the same amount. Betting has become a habit.”
◆Is it legal or illegal? It depends on which state you bet in.
Currently, Washington, D.C. and 38 states allow sports betting in the United States. States aiming to increase tax revenue are moving forward with legalization, and online adoption has led to rapid growth. According to the US Gaming Association, sports betting revenue in 2023 was approximately $10.9 billion (approximately 1.6 trillion yen), an increase of 44.5% from the previous year.
On the other hand, some states, such as Western California, consider the dangers of gambling addiction a problem and have made it illegal.
People watch surfers riding the waves on the beach from the pier. California is a state where sports betting is illegal – Huntington, California, September 2023 (AP)
According to US media, the line between legal and illegal sports betting is determined by the state in which the sports bet is made. For example, if you go to a state where it’s legal, anyone over the legal age can bet regardless of where they live. If you are online, your location will be tracked using satellite positioning systems (GPS), and you will be required to use the app in states where it is legal.
Mr. Mizuhara became a problem because he used an illegal bookmaker in California, where sports betting is not allowed. Sports betting itself would not have been an issue as long as it was in a state where it was legal and the bet was on a sport other than baseball, which is part of his job.
◆Approximately 1% of adults, or 2.5 million people, are severely addicted
According to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, about half of U.S. adults have gambled on sports, and young men are more likely to be addicted to it. One of the characteristics of bettors is that many of them have experience in the sport in question, and they tend to get hooked on it, saying, “I have knowledge. I can read the results.”
A man operating a smartphone (image)
“Gambling addiction is a mental illness and anyone is at risk,” said Kate Houble, communications director for the National Gambling Addiction Control Council. It is estimated that 2.5 million people, or about 1% of adults, are severely addicted, and the number of consultations to the council has increased by 30% from the previous year.
As states continue to legalize sports betting, Houbre said, “We need to take measures such as directing some of the proceeds to prevention and treatment of addiction.”