A responsible look at betting the NBA Finals
Gaming America interviewed Birches Health founder Elliott Rapaport ahead of the 2024 NBA Finals, discussing healthy and sustainable betting habits ahead of the series.
———
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin June 6 as the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics will square off for the chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Finals represent one of the most wagered-on events for betting operators whether online or in retail locations.
Elliott Rapaport, Founder and CEO of Birches Health, provides teletherapy for gambling addicts unable to access care.
“Birches Health offers free access to the first comprehensive, specialized platform for problem gambling,” Rapaport said.
“Resources, educational materials and exercises are available to all through a seamless digital onboarding process. We’re proud to partner with many companies and organizations to ensure access to resources is never limited.”
One of the main groups of concern for Birches Health also happens to be some of the most popular bettors for an event such as the Finals. Young males, specifically aged between 21-30, place many wagers on basketball events throughout the season and traffic only increases once the playoffs begin.
“The increased accessibility to sports betting apps has driven a startling new trend of younger, tech-savvy gamblers doing so regularly from their cell phones. While sports betting historically only took place at retail sportsbooks and casinos, digitally native gamblers now can place many bets quickly and easily,” Rapaport said.
“While individuals of all ages and demographics may bet on the NBA Finals, those who may experience serious mental and financial issues tend to skew male and younger.”
Birches Health offers many healthy betting tips to young males and anyone looking to wager on the NBA Finals while they occur.
Rapaport understands the likelihood of how much money will be spent on wagers during the Finals, but cautioned bettors by saying, “If the recent proliferation of betting around major sporting events continues, the NBA Finals may produce record levels of handle. We know people will be betting on the NBA Finals despite those risks, though, so it is important to be aware of responsible gaming’s best practices. Sticking to a budget, never chase your losses and don’t bet while under the influence of alcohol.”
Rapaport also confirmed Birches Health will be supporting various organizations that provide betting services or content during the Finals.
“We currently support gaming operators, state governments, media companies and professional sports organizations who are focused on ensuring that access to treatment and resources from licensed, specialized providers is readily available. We recently collaborated with a few of our partners to launch customized resources for national reach and look forward to announcing those very soon.”
