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March Madness T
he nonprofit National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates student athletic programs at 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities, plus one in Canada. Historically, intercollegiate sports date back to the mid-1850s at Harvard and Yale.
By the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt’s first athletic meetings analyzed student football injuries and deaths. It’s no wonder. Watch an old movie and you will see those ridiculous leather helmets that offered little protection.
The uniforms weren’t much better. Former President Ronald Reagan began his acting career with a small part, playing legendary Notre Dame football star George Gipp from the early 20th century.
The NCAA officially formed in 1910. By 1939, the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament was played. This year, 68 college teams have competed for the national championship in a single elimination, seven-round contest that led to a Final Four finish in April.
This year, the American Gaming Association (AGA) predicted players will wager $3.1 billion in legal bets by the final playoff, up from $2.7 billion in 2024. The women’s college basketball games have also enjoyed growing popularity as emerging superstars have attracted millions of viewers. The AGA’s 2024 American Attitudes Survey revealed that 75 percent of Americans continue to support legal sports wagering in their home states; 90 percent consider sports betting an acceptable leisure activity. As
22 APRIL 2025
2/4/25 10:09
No sooner had the celebrations over the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl triumph faded then the “March Madness” college basketball tournament craziness took hold. Sharon Harris reports
promote both in a thoughtful manner. AGA SVP of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney says, “It is all about keeping betting fun and respecting the game…The AGA March Madness is one of the most exciting times in American sports... As legal wagering expands across the U.S., more fans than ever have the opportunity to bet legally and responsibly…”
The five-prong campaign stresses these key principles: • Set a Budget: Players should evaluate daily budgets and expenses. With market pricing fluctuations, maintaining a financial “cushion” is smart.
• Keep it Social: While camaraderie has been key to the land-based casino experience, sports and online betting is often solitary. Make your wagering activities a social event with others.
• Know the Odds: Players should research and understand the nuances of every sport they bet on and the winning odds.
• Play Legally: Use regulated, legal betting platforms. Once an illegal group has a player’s credit card information, hackers have open season. It is even more critical to ensure a betting outlet is reputable and will actually pay any winnings owed.
more states legalized sports betting, consumers recognized its economic and recreational benefits.
In addition to emphasizing the excitement of March Madness, the AGA is also promoting its Have A Game Plan ® Bet Responsibly™ messages to encourage responsible sports betting. It is possible to
• Keep Your Cool: While a win is great, a loss never excuses in-person or online verbal abuse against coaches, players or officials. Yes, there are sometimes investigations and rule changes due to bad calls or other improprieties. However, fans must believe that those involved in the game have good intentions. The AGA’s recommendations are fine in theory, but advertising remains a slippery slope for consumers. Sports betting commercials flood the airwaves throughout the year, but advertising agencies “up” their game during the championship months.
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