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It's time to rein in sports betting

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It's time to rein in sports betting

When it comes to your finances, sports betting may be one gamble you don’t want to take.

Wagering on sports can lead to poorer debt management and worse credit scores. Bettors are also more likely to increase their spending and shrink their investments, according to a pair of recent studies. The consequences are biggest among financially vulnerable populations.

What’s worse, per a third study, is that the way sports betting is evolving could make it one of the most addictive forms of gambling.

It’s time for policymakers to step in and regulate this budding betting industry six years after it was legalized in the US to help people avoid their worst impulses — before it’s too late.

“As individuals, voters, [and] policymakers, I think our results are concerning,” Justin Balthrop, a co-author of one of the studies and an assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, told Yahoo Finance.

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“But it’s very hard to make prescriptions before you have a diagnosis. And what I think our paper is really trying to do is get very precise estimates of exactly what the problems are.”

A sign, above, calls attention to sports betting at Encore Boston Harbor casino, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in Everett, Mass. Massachusetts sports fans who want to wager on their favorite teams are finally getting their chance as the state kicks off sports betting at casinos in the state beginning Tuesday, Jan. 31, with online betting likely to follow in a few months. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A sign calls attention to sports betting at Encore Boston Harbor casino Jan. 31, 2023, in Everett, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sports betting began to take hold after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018, allowing states to set their own sports gambling laws.

So far, sports betting is legal through retail and/or online sportsbooks in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Revenue has jumped, growing 30.3% to $7.56 billion year to date through July from the same period last year.

In his study, Balthrop — who refers to himself as “a pretty avid and voluminous sports bettor” — took advantage of the staggered rollout of sports betting across the US after its legalization, giving him and his colleagues time to understand the before and after effects of this betting.

What he found was for every $1 deposited into online sportsbooks, those households reduce their investment allocations by $2. The doubling effect — from $1 to $2 — comes from the additional spending outside of the bets to support their gambling. Think extra streaming services or more sports bar tabs to watch games.

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Additionally, sports betting increases the number of times households overdraw their bank accounts, Balthrop found. These effects were worse for financially constrained households, which also reduced their credit card payments while increasing their balances.

“The core of this effect is taking place in households that may not have budgetary slack,” Balthrop said.

Davide Proserpio and his colleagues found similarly concerning findings in their study. Overall, the average credit score in a state fell by 0.3% after legalizing sports gambling. That figure triples to 1% if the state permitted online sports gambling.

The fact the study took the average credit score of a state’s entire population likely dilutes the real impact on a bettor’s personal credit score, Proserpio, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Southern California, said.

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On top of that, bankruptcies, debt consolidation loans, and debt collections increased in states that legalized sports betting, especially online betting — to the point that Proserpio found that lenders restricted access to credit to protect themselves. Low-income young men were more likely to be affected.

“It’s not just gambling is affecting, on average, consumer financial health,” he said, “it is also affecting a part of the population that is already low income and probably has other types of [financial] problems.”

Balthrop and Proserpio documented the consequences of sports betting, but their studies didn’t examine why this particular form of gambling can be so detrimental.

That’s where Dr. Jamie Torrance, a researcher in psychology at Swansea University in the UK, and his colleagues come in. They examined numerous studies worldwide on gambling in what’s called a scoping review and unearthed patterns to help explain why sports betting has gotten so pernicious. It comes down to three factors: access, quantity of bets, and illusion of control.

Historically, sports betting was a slow, “simplistic form of gambling,” Torrance said. To wager on a game, you had to call up a booker or walk into a betting shop. You could only bet if a team was going to win, lose, or tie. And then you had to wait until the game was over for the outcome of your bet.

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“There’s lots of research that indicates that the longer you have to wait for a gambling outcome, the less addictive and harmful the product usually is,” Torrance said.

Not anymore with sports gambling, which is instantly accessible on our phones and more akin to slot machines.

“We’re basically walking around with a casino in our pockets,” Torrance said.

Photo by: STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2022 1/7/22 New York online sports betting to launch on Saturday, January 8th. Fanduel, Caesars, Draftkings and Rush Street Interactive have met the regulatory requirements to launch this weekend. Here, Caesars, Draft Kings and Fanduel logos photographed on multiple iphone devices.Photo by: STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2022 1/7/22 New York online sports betting to launch on Saturday, January 8th. Fanduel, Caesars, Draftkings and Rush Street Interactive have met the regulatory requirements to launch this weekend. Here, Caesars, Draft Kings and Fanduel logos photographed on multiple iphone devices.

New York online sports betting to launch on Jan. 8, 2022. (Photo by: STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2022 1/7/22) (STRF/STAR MAX/IPx)

On popular apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel, bettors can wager at any time of the day, on any sport, on any game. They can bet on more than just who wins the game, too; they can put money on the outcome of the next baseball pitch or field goal kick. The options are nearly endless and the results come back faster.

“That is a big issue,” he said.

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Another major problem is that sports bettors can easily convince themselves they can beat the odds, Torrance said, providing “an illusion of control.”

They fancy themselves as sports experts. They watch all the games and read all the game reports. They may subscribe to sports newsletters with insider info. Heck, maybe they were a half-rate player a decade ago.

“Sports betting has a way of tapping into people’s misestimation of their own expertise,” Balthrop said, agreeing with Torrance.

But — like any other type of gambling — the game is rigged. The house always wins.

A man makes a sports bet at the DraftKings sports book in Atlantic City, N.J., Oct. 8, 2019. New Jersey regulators fined DraftKings $100,000 on June 17, 2024 for reporting inaccurate sports betting data to the state, leading to the correction and reposting of New Jersey sports betting data in Dec. 2023 and January and Feb. 2024. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)A man makes a sports bet at the DraftKings sports book in Atlantic City, N.J., Oct. 8, 2019. New Jersey regulators fined DraftKings $100,000 on June 17, 2024 for reporting inaccurate sports betting data to the state, leading to the correction and reposting of New Jersey sports betting data in Dec. 2023 and January and Feb. 2024. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

A man makes a sports bet at the DraftKings sports book in Atlantic City, N.J., Oct. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Torrance’s research also uncovered how sports betting could evolve — and his two major predictions are unsettling.

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First, he expects sports betting companies to employ augmented reality. For instance, you could point your phone at a live sporting event, and the app would provide real-time odds on different bets.

Second, he anticipates these companies will provide bettors with very specific notifications based on their gambling behavior. A person could receive an alert that the star player’s mother is having surgery this week that could affect the player’s performance. Maybe the recommendation is to bet against the team.

“That kind of stuff encourages what we discussed earlier, which is the illusion of control,” he said.

This is why all three researchers embarked on these studies, to provide crucial data on gambling to inform lawmakers who — to be honest — may be swayed more by the tax revenue sports betting provides. But citizens who get themselves into too much debt or don’t save for retirement become a “social cost burden” down the road, Balthrop said.

“There is a trade-off here,” Proserpio agreed.

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Australia offers a blueprint, recently implementing ways to slow the betting process to combat those ruinous consequences. But time is ticking in the US as the sports betting industry evolves and grows.

Lawmakers in Missouri and Oklahoma have introduced bills to legalize the industry, while two Democratic congressmen this month introduced a bill that would allow the federal government to regulate advertising, bet-making, and artificial intelligence in the industry.

“I’d like to think that you guys over the pond have more time to reduce harm, but in reality, I don’t think that’s going to be the case,” Torrance said. “I think, in fact, it’s going to mirror the UK where we have lots of gambling harm.”

In other words, don’t bet on it.

Janna Herron is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @JannaHerron.

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Finance

Plano-Based Finance of America Announces $2.5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

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Plano-Based Finance of America Announces .5B Partnership with Funds Managed by Blue Owl to Expand FOA’s Home Equity Lending

Finance of America Companies, a leading provider of home equity-based financing solutions for a modern retirement, and funds managed by Blue Owl Capital, a leading alternative asset manager, announced an enhanced $2.5 billion strategic partnership to accelerate product innovation and distribution for the nation’s fast-growing retirement demographic.

With more than 10,000 Americans entering retirement age every day, the market for home equity access continues to expand. FOA said its collaboration with New York City-based Blue Owl positions it to capture significant share in this rapidly evolving sector.

“This is a pivotal moment not just for Finance of America, but for the senior finance market as a whole,” Graham Fleming, CEO of Finance of America, said in a statement. “By aligning with Blue Owl, we are creating a platform of scale and innovation to better serve one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States.”

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The enhanced partnership includes, per FOA:

  • $2.5 billion commitment for new product innovation, providing scale and liquidity to support origination growth across multiple asset classes
  • $50 million equity investment in Finance of America, enhancing long-term alignment between the companies and supporting FOA’s continued growth initiatives
  • Joint innovation and product-development initiative focused on the continuous rollout of new, differentiated financial products tailored for people looking to maximize freedom, security, and opportunity throughout their retirement
 

This product expansion will complement FOA’s existing industry-leading reverse mortgage product suite while strengthening the company’s commitment to innovation and its role as a leader in delivering powerful financial solutions for retirees.

FOA said it continues to empower retirees with responsible, flexible access to capital to support aging in place, healthcare expenses, and lifestyle goals.

The partnership reinforces Finance of America’s mission to provide comprehensive, retirement-focused financial solutions, with the goal of expanding beyond reverse mortgages to become the nation’s leading, full-spectrum home equity lending platform, the company said.

“We believe Finance of America is uniquely positioned to redefine how financial products are delivered to retirees,” said David Aidi, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

“This partnership provides the capital, the strategic alignment, and the innovation engine to build category-defining products at scale,” added Ray Chan, senior managing director and co-head of Asset Based Finance at Blue Owl.

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R E A D   N E X T

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    Tre Welch, Tremedics Medical Devices Inc., Leon Jacobson, Ted Price, Nerveli Inc., Sarah Iselin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, TechFW, MassChallenge, ClearLeaf, Feathery, Algas Organics, Coastal Protection Solutions

  • “We closed the first volume of our story—25 years in the making.” That’s how CEO Tom Spackman described Gigabit Fiber’s majority stake sale to Blue Owl, marking a new phase of growth as AI and cloud drive demand for hyperscale connectivity.

  • Topgolf said the limited-time experience is available at all Topgolf U.S. venues Feb. 1 through April 13. It’s accompanied by a national in-venue sweepstakes and limited-time menu items.

  • The bank’s Support Services team fills a critical role in BOA—acting as an in-house consulting firm for every line of business.

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Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

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Bérangère Michel announced as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer

The BBC has announced that Bérangère Michel has been appointed to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer.

Bérangère brings extensive experience from her 16-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, where she held senior roles including Chief Financial Officer, Customer Service Executive Director, Operations Director and Finance & Strategy Director.

Prior to joining the John Lewis Partnership, Bérangère spent 11 years at the Royal Mail Group in a number of finance, change and strategy roles, including as Finance Director of the property division.

In an expanded role as BBC Group Chief Financial Officer, Bérangère will be responsible for the overall BBC Group financial strategy, with a remit across BBC Public Service, BBC Studios and the BBC’s commercial subsidiaries. She will play a leadership role and will sit on both the Executive Committee and, for the first time, the Board.

This position will strengthen the BBC’s financial leadership, support its transformation, and make the best use of the licence fee and commercial opportunities. Bérangère will report to the Director-General and will take up the role in early January.

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Director-General Tim Davie says: “Bérangère brings a wealth of experience from her time at the John Lewis Partnership and will play a critical role in shaping our new financial strategy. I’m pleased to welcome her to the BBC, and to both the Executive Committee and Board.

“Bérangère’s appointment to this expanded role comes at an important time for the BBC, as we look ahead to Charter renewal and continue to accelerate our transformation to deliver outstanding value for our audiences.”

BBC Chair Samir Shah says: “The role of Group Chief Financial Officer will be hugely important as we build a BBC for the future, and I look forward to welcoming Bérangère to the Board.”

Bérangère Michel says: “I am delighted to be joining the BBC, an institution whose purpose and mission I have always admired. It’s a privilege to be part of shaping its exciting future at such a crucial moment and I cannot wait to get started.”

BBC Press Office

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

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ATI Promotes Longtime Leader to CFO and SVP of Finance

ATI Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of high-performance materials for the aerospace and defense industries, announced that James Robert “Rob” Foster will be promoted to senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer, effective January 1, 2026.

Foster succeeds Don Newman, who will serve as strategic advisor to the CEO beginning January 1. As previously announced, Newman will retire on March 1, 2026, and serve in an advisory capacity in that time to allow for a smooth transition.

“Rob is a proven P&L leader with enterprise-wide experience in the areas that matter most to ATI’s continued growth,” Kim Fields, president and CEO, said in a statement. “He brings deep expertise not only in finance but also as an operational leader. Rob played a pivotal role in the successful Specialty Rolled Products transformation, consistently helping ATI to deliver strong returns and shareholder value. I look forward to partnering with him as we enter our next phase of profitable growth.”

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Foster, a longtime ATI leader, brings both operational expertise and financial discipline to the CFO role, the company said. He most recently served as president of ATI’s specialty alloys & components business, where he improved efficiency, grew capacity, and advanced the company’s role as a global leader in exotic alloys. Foster previously served as vice president of Finance, Supply Chain, and Capital Projects, overseeing ATI’s global finance organization, capital deployment processes, and enterprise supply chain performance. Earlier in his career, he led Finance for both ATI operating segments and the Forged Products business.

“I’m honored to become ATI’s next CFO,” said Foster. “ATI is well-positioned with a strong balance sheet, focused strategy, and significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with our team to drive disciplined investment, operational excellence, and long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

Newman added, “Rob is an exceptional leader who understands ATI’s strategy, operations, and financial drivers. He has delivered transformative results across the organization. I look forward to supporting a seamless transition as we pursue this next step in our succession planning.”

Before joining ATI in 2012, Foster held senior finance roles at API Technologies Corp. and Spectrum Control Inc., where he led ERP implementations, acquisition integrations, and internal control enhancements. He began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young (EY).

ATI produces high-performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical, and specialty energy. 

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R E A D   N E X T

  • The company said Keith Schroeder brings more than 40 years of experience in accounting, corporate control and reporting, finance, operations, and CEO and CFO strategic roles.

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  • Anthony DiSilvestro joins KDP at a pivotal moment as it moves to close its $18 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based JDE Peet’s. His “significant” M&A experience will advance the combined company’s integration and its ultimate split into two “winning companies,” CEO Tim Cofer said.

  • Donna Guy brings more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership across public and private companies to her new position. 

  • Last week, Irving-based Caterpillar marked its 100th anniversary year with celebrations throughout the U.S. commemorating “a monumental moment” in the company’s history. The company officially turns 100 on April 15, marking a century of “customer-centric innovation and industry-leading transformation”

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