Saul grew up betting on fantasy baseball.   He says it was "a part of my life" and "what tied my group of friends together."  In college, when a friend suggested they bet on sports with a bookie he didn't think much about it before saying "I'm in." 

Saul's experience is pretty typical.  According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 67% of college students bet on sports.  They also tell us that youth rates of being at-risk for problem gambling are 2 to 3 times higher than adult rates.  Saul is one of those students who developed a gambling problem.

Saul Malek joins us in this episode to talk about his experiences with sports betting.

Listen in and hear:

• How Saul's betting increased in less than a year from wagering on a couple of games to 150 bets a week.
• How gambling problems stay hidden - from yourself, from others, and on campuses
• What helped Saul to recognize and accept that sports betting was out of control for him (and what he did about it)

To learn more about why sports betting problems often stay hidden and what you can do about this if you or someone you care about is struggling, read the blog for this episode at www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca

If you would like to connect with Saul Malek, visit his website at www.saulmalek.com

If you live in British Columbia and would like help for gambling concerns, reach out to our free, confidential counselling and outreach services.  Connect with us online at Gambling Support BC or call 1-888-795-6111.

To connect with gambling problem help outside of British Columbia:

Canada:  click here

United States:  National Council on Problem Gambling

United Kingdom:  GamCare

Australia:  Gamblers' Help

If you live outside of these areas, search online for "Gambling Problem Help" in your country.

 If you would like to connect with Fold em through Facebook or Instagram, find us at Foldem Podcast.  You can also reach out through [email protected].  We welcome feedback and topics for upcoming episodes.

 Fold em is funded by Gambling Support BC.