You Can Bet on It
It's March. It's Madness. And this year, the real game might not be on the court — it’s in the sportsbooks.
You know that online sports betting is a thing. But are you aware of just how big it’s gotten over the last seven years? Since the Supreme Court gave states the green light to legalize sports gambling in 2018, online gambling has become a massive industry with the rise of user-friendly apps like DraftKings and FanDuel. You can now legally bet on sports in 38 states plus DC.
About $150 billion in bets — yes, that’s billion with a capital B — were placed last year in the United States, up more than 20% from 2023. More than $3 billion is expected to be wagered on sports this month alone — about double what it’s estimated that people put down on the Super Bowl. One survey found more than 1 in 5 Americans have placed a sports bet in the past year, and some women are even treating sports betting like a side hustle.
And it goes so far beyond TDs and three-pointers … or even sports at all. You can bet on the next Pope. You can bet on whether we’ll have a recession this year. You can bet on whether the new James Bond will be a Brit (we’re long on Theo James).
Polymarket, the crypto betting platform, scaled from 4,000 active traders at the beginning of 2024 to more than 300,000 by last December — with people putting down more than $9 billion dollars. And the boom in sports betting has some unintended consequences, including how it may affect relationships, as well as the potential for gambling addiction.
It’s also a potential incentive to cheat. These days, regulators like the CFPB and the CFTC are either sidelined or are signaling they’ll take a hands-off approach. Some experts worry this opens the door to manipulation like match-fixing to go unchecked among unscrupulous players.
Bottom line: Sports betting is bigger — and wilder — than ever. So if you’re placing bets, set limits, be transparent with your partner, and know the risks.
— Betting on the Spicy Wings, Anna Davies, writer
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Tell Us ...
You overhear the word “parlay” in line for coffee. The people behind you are likely talking about:
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“I Built Up My Emergency Fund”
“Just save more!” Amazing, thank you. We all know generally what to do to keep our finances healthy. It's the how that’s often a mystery. The Skimm Money community is savvy, so we asked you to get specific about what you’re doing to hit your financial goals.
Here’s how Jessica, a 39-year-old from Cleveland, OH, took tiny steps toward building her emergency fund:
“I began putting $25 per paycheck into another savings account. It was small enough that I wouldn’t ‘notice’ it was missing, but seeing the money grow was motivating. I increased the amount every time I got a raise, and now put 5% of my gross pay there.
I put my money in a bank that was different from my checking account, so I wasn’t tempted to pull the cash.
I compared banks and chose one with a good interest rate.
“The money has come in handy: I used it for a car repair this year, and a home repair the year before!"
Now, we want to hear how you’re hitting your money goals. Whether it’s buying a house, tackling a trip, becoming a parent — tell us about it here.
We got a status update on inflation last week. The news stories about it might as well have been written in hieroglyphics. Take, for example, the below clip that ran in a major newspaper on March 12.
We took out a pen and did some editing. (Yes, this is how we actually edit each other.) Here's what's they're really saying.
Consumer prices were up 2.8% in February from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported Wednesday, versus a January gain of 3%. [DOES THAT MEAN 6% SINCE THE START OF 2025? ARE WE GOOD WITH THIS?] Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected a 2.9% gain…. Stocks jumped at the opening bell, then gave up some of their gains. [SO BASICALLY, STOCKS ROSE, THEN FELL. AND ARE NOW THE SAME?] Analysts warned that an encouraging inflation print [THE WHAT? IF YOU MEAN INFLATION REPORT, JUST SAY SO! ] wasn’t enough to make up for the tariffs uncertainty. [MEANING: BECAUSE TARIFFS ARE CHANGING EVERY DAY, THIS DATA IS BASICALLY USELESS NOW?] Moreover, details of the report suggested that Fed policymakers might not be as relieved by it as investors initially hoped. [SO, END OF DAY … INFLATION REPORT NOT SO GREAT.]
In summary: Inflation is holding steady, but the rapidly-shifting tariff situation has investors on edge. Everyone’s waiting for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and make it easier to borrow money –– and this report probably won’t help get the Fed to a “yes.”
💡How to Press Pause on Work — Without Falling Behind
Hitting pause on work can feel risky. What if you lose momentum? What if you can’t afford it? What if getting back in is harder than stepping out? For years, we’ve been told to lean in. But what if the real power move isn’t about leaning in or out — but knowing when (and how) to pause?
Join us for a conversation with career strategist Kimberly Brown and The Power Pause author Neha Ruch on how to take a break without losing ground. Because a career pause isn’t a setback—it’s a strategy.
Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.
If dealing with health insurance makes you want to cry, read this. We spoke to the co-founders of Sheer Health, who’ve already helped members get nearly $7 million back in bills.*
Through March 23, get 25% off sitewide at Madewell, including their viral bucket tote and barrel-leg jeans. When Madewell has a sale, we don't ask questions, we just shop.
One more sale for the road: Gap's Friends & Family Sale is offering 40% off sitewide and 50% off dresses. Now's your chance to grab the cult-favorite sweatpant jeans.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
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