StFX Students Sportsbetting on NFL Sunday

“I wish that was two minutes later, now the odds just dropped,’’ says an anonymous Third Year Business student at StFX. Larry, a fake name, is about to make his second bet of the day at 3 in the afternoon. He already has a $20 bet that could win $265. Larry’s bet on the outcome of 6 different games: the  Ravens, the Bears, the Patriots, the Packers, the Chiefs, and the Eagles to win. This form of betting is called a parlay, which bundles different bets together to increase the payout. Yet now that the Kansas City Chiefs are losing, Larry is preparing to make a second one.  

“What play are you talking about?’’ I asked, confused. We’re watching NFL RedZone, a grid screen on the TV broadcasting 4 different games at the same time. Larry ignores mewanting to get his bet in before the odds change again. His new parlay is another $8 for $300 placed on the Baltimore Ravens to win by three points, and for three other teams to just win.  Larry admits to me that he would’ve bet more if he could. “I’m just running out of money, with university expense costs and all that, or I’d have way more parlays.’’ 

Larry makes his bets based “on the momentum I’m seeing in the game.’’ Even when Larry and Harry, also a fake name, take bong hits they stand by the open front door and blow smoke outside to keep watching the games because “the odds change live.’’ Since the Ravens “played so bad so their odds went up,” Larry believes he can make more by doubling down on it. “The advantages of live betting,” he says. 

In his life he estimates he’s bet between $5000 to $10 000 online gambling. Without saying how much, he admits overall he’s lost money. He usually bets on NFL or NBA games but has also wagered on cricket, ping pong, and E-Sports.  Larry draws a distinction between sports betting and other forms of online gambling, like slots or blackjack, because of the “there is some skill to it, where casinos all luck.’’  

“I’ve been banned from 2 [sportsbooks]. One for being underage and one for not obliging to their Responsible Gambling tools.” The most recent suspension is for Bet 365, which is the “best sportsbook in Nova Scotia.’’ He doesn’t believe he should’ve been banned; “I didn't think the quiz would ban me... I guess I should’ve thought if I said ‘Yes, I feel I’m addicted to gambling’ I would be.’’ 

He views gambling as “just a fun hobby, I don’t have that much of an emotional connection to losing.  Larry bets because he enjoys “the risk of it. Risk for reward.’’ He’s considered going to counselling for gambling addiction but knows he doesn’t “need it, personally.’’ 

 The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys, sinking both of Larry’s parlays. He tells me “Online gambling is a cancer in society right now, especially for young boys. And it’s marketed tremendously through sports and online influencers.’’ Celebrities from Wayne Gretzky, Jamie Foxx and Vanessa Hudgens have advertised sports betting platforms. He alleges online casinos pay online influencers to show fake or rare wins so “these big streamers, who are always winning money, can get their viewers to gamble.’’  

A report by Greo Evidence Insights, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, and Mental Health Research Canada, released on November 12, 2025, “Highlights how young people in Canada, aged 18 to 29, are at higher risk of suffering from high levels of gambling-related harms, including financial, emotional, psychological and relationship harms.’’ Close to a third (32%) reported gambling online. 23.5% of those who do reported experiencing a high level of gambling-related harms.  

Larry locks in his final bet of the day, $21 to win $212. It’s a five-way parlay on the three NBA and two NFL games. The NBA games went his way but the Arizona Cardinals lost by three points when he needed them to lose by two or less. Larry remains unbothered. It’s not a great day but he knows that anything he bets he could lose. I ask if he’ll bet again next Sunday.  “Of course,’’ he smiles, “love for the game.’’  

Harry’s had better luck than Larry on NFL Sunday. He only made one bet, $17 that won $82 on specific prop bets. Harry isn’t wagering on the winner or loser of the game: instead he’s betting on individual players and plays. He needed the Arizona Cardinals and the Jacksonville Jaguars to score a field goal, Arizona’s quarterback needed to complete 19 passes, and Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back Travis Etienne needed over 13 rush attempts and 33.5 yards. Jacksonville ended up beating Arizona in overtime 27-24.  

He made these bets because they seemed likely “based on what’s happened in earlier games.’’  

Winning “feels rewarding. I feel smart about my football knowledge. But honestly more relieved than anything else.’’ 

“Relieved?’’ I ask. 

“Relieved I didn’t lose the money, and the money covers some of what I spent over the weekend on food and sangria.’’ 

If you feel you have an issue gambling you can call Nova Scotia’s Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line at 1-888-429-8167 or reach out for counselling at Bloomfield.