If you’re a big enough fan, you can find a sport to watch at any time of year. Yet it’s a particularly good time for sport right now, with football season ramping up and hockey just starting. All this excitement may tempt you to bet on what will happen, but is that really a good idea?

If you’ve ever invested in a particular team, you’re not alone. Now that online sports betting is “legal in 30 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,” it is estimated that “total monthly wagering has increased from an average of $1.1 billion per month in 2019 to $14 billion in January 2024,” said NBC News. That’s a big increase.