An article by Calen Trentini
"Think you know sports? Prove it." That's the pitch in Novig's ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, and it speaks to a lot of guys who watch a ton of sports and figure that knowledge should be worth something. In reality, almost everyone loses. One large US study found that 96% of online gamblers lost money (Wilbur et al., 2024).
If betting has started taking up more of your money or headspace than you'd like, a lot of guys are in the same spot, and it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Sports betting is built to be hard to put down. It's also very treatable.
Why it feels like you can win
Sports betting doesn't feel like a slot machine, because you actually know the teams and follow the games. That's what makes it so convincing. Psychologists call this the illusion of control: the sense that knowledge gives you more influence over the outcome than it really does.
It also changes how wins and losses feel. A win feels earned. A loss feels like bad luck, or a team that blew a lead. So the natural next move is to bet again and win it back. That's called chasing losses, and it's one of the most common ways betting gets out of hand.
Even if you do get good at it, sportsbooks often limit how much consistent winners are allowed to bet, which makes it very hard to come out ahead.
Betting to catch up
For a lot of young men, betting is as much about money as it is about sports. Good jobs are hard to land, and here in Vancouver it can take the typical young person decades of full-time work just to save a down payment (Generation Squeeze).
When the slow way of building a life feels out of reach, a big win can start to feel like the only way to catch up. Some people call this financial nihilism.
The trouble is that betting usually makes this worse. Losses and debt pile up, and the stress of feeling behind gets heavier, which can make the next bet feel even more necessary.
Signs it might be becoming a problem
There's no single line where betting becomes a problem, but these are some of the signs to watch for:
Chasing losses, or betting more than you planned
Hiding how much you bet from the people close to you
Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back
Betting to escape stress or a low mood
Borrowing money, or using money meant for bills, to keep betting
Trying to stop and not being able to
If a few of these sound familiar, the betting might be doing a job in your life, like helping you unwind or escape stress. That's something we can work on together.
How therapy can help you stop betting on sports
A lot of people bet to get a break from anxiety or a low mood. Researchers call these coping motives, and they're one of the strongest links to gambling problems in sports bettors (David et al., 2026). That's why therapy looks at both the betting and what's sitting underneath it.
In practice, that can mean:
Understanding what the betting is doing for you, and finding other ways to meet that need
Working through the thoughts that keep you betting, like "I know this team" or "I'm due," using cognitive behavioural therapy
Practising riding out the urge instead of acting on it, especially while you're watching games
Making practical changes, like blocking apps or setting up support around money
The goal is to help you get back in control, without shame or lectures.
Why you don't need to be sure before you start
Most people who reach out about betting aren't fully decided. Part of them wants to stop, and part of them still thinks the next bet might be the one. In motivational interviewing, that mixed feeling (called ambivalence) is where the work starts. You can come in unsure about quitting, and we can talk through your reasons for change and your doubts about it honestly.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about sports betting and stopping
If I know sports really well, can't I make money betting?
Very few people do. Most online bettors lose money over time, and sportsbooks often limit the ones who win consistently.
Do I have to quit completely?
Not necessarily. Some people choose to stop, and some work toward cutting back. We can figure out together what fits your goals.
My partner or friend bets a lot. Can I get support too?
Yes. Gambling affects the people around the person betting, and therapy can help you sort out what you need and how to talk about it.
Where can I get help right now in BC?
Gambling Support BC offers a free, 24/7 helpline at 1-888-795-6111. If you're in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8.
References
David, J., Kim, H. S., Yüce, A., & Keough, M. T. (2026). Understanding the links between anxiety, depression, and sports betting: The mediating role of sports betting motivations. Addictive Behaviors, 172, 108482.
Generation Squeeze. (n.d.). Homes are out of reach. https://www.gensqueeze.ca/homes_are_out_of_reach
Wilbur, K. C., Taylor, W. J., & McCarthy, D. M. (2024). Online gambling policy effects on tax revenue and irresponsible gambling [Working paper]. University of California San Diego. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/legalized-gambling-increases-irresponsible-betting-behavior-especially-among-low-income-populations
About the author: Calen Trentini
I'm a student therapist at Vancouver Therapy Collective. I spent ten years as a coach and manager in the tech industry before training as a counsellor, and I bring a practical, grounded approach to that work now. My capstone research focused on therapeutic interventions for cannabis use disorder, and I draw on acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and dialectical behaviour therapy in my work with clients navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, addiction, and grief.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can get a sense of what working together would be like and decide if we're the right fit.
