GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - With March Madness inbound, the excitement of college basketball is bringing a major surge in sports betting. The American Gaming Association estimates that over $3 billion will be wagered on this year’s tournament. Green Bay native Carley Duffney returns home t o join Phoenix women’s basketball In Wisconsin, sports betting is only legal through Oneida Casino, where customers can place wagers in person or through a mobile app while on the reservation. However, with this rise in accessibility, concerns over gambling addiction are growing. Rose Blozinsky, executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, warns that more people are trying different forms of gambling, increasing the risk of addiction. "As gambling becomes more accessible, we see more people trying different types of gambling than they maybe would have in the past," Blozinsky said. "Gambling is very much becoming a norm. Our goal is not to tell people to gamble or not, but to really be aware of the signs and symptoms of a gambling problem." Younger gamblers, she says, are especially at risk. "They are at almost a higher risk to become addicted because they are at the age where they’re risk takers. It looks glamorous, all those types of things, and we know the younger you start gambling, the better chance you have at becoming addicted." Meanwhile, Oneida Casino continues to see growing interest in sports betting. Chad Fuss, gaming assistant general manager of finance for Oneida Casino and Hotel, says their sportsbook has been well received. "The first year we introduced sports betting, approximately three years ago, we've seen a great response from customers wanting it, so we've seen a lot of foot traffic, and we've seen a lot of bets being made." To promote responsible gaming, Oneida Casino partners with the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, providing financial support and making problem gambling resources available to customers. "If we are looking at the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, we work with them fairly well, so we do financially support the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling yearly," Fuss said. "We also put notifications out for our customers where they can reach resources if they think they have a gambling problem, they can reach out for help." St. Norbert College to cut programs, reduce faculty amid enrollment concerns With the accessibility of sports betting growing, experts say it’s crucial for people to be aware of their gambling habits. The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling offers a 24-hour helpline, chat, and text support for those in need at 1-800-GAMBLE-5. ...read more read less