A Sure Thing in Uncertain Times: Why Your Gift Beats the Odds
Why are so many of us placing bets?
We find it fascinating, and a little telling, how many people have turned to gambling as the world has felt more and more uncertain. When so much feels out of our hands, a bet offers something we are all craving: a little hope, a little sense of control, and the dream that one lucky moment could change everything.
And we are betting like never before. In 2025, commercial gaming in the U.S. brought in a record $78.7 billion, up 9.2% from the year before, according to the American Gaming Association. People placed nearly $167 billion in sports bets alone, and online casino games grew almost 28%. All of it is just a few taps away on the phones in our pockets.
I get it. I really do. But it got me thinking about where else we could put that hope, and that money, this October. Somewhere the payoff is not a maybe.
The odds are stacked against you
The math behind gambling is simple: the system is built so that, over time, players lose. That $78.7 billion in gaming revenue is, in plain terms, money that players put in and did not get back.
Sportsbooks kept about $17 billion of the $167 billion wagered on sports in 2025. That works out to roughly 10 cents of every dollar bet. The lottery is even longer odds. Your chance of hitting the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292.2 million.
Some people win, of course. But for most of us, the return on a bet is a few minutes of excitement and a lighter wallet.
Uncertain times call for a sure thing
A lot of us are anxious right now. Prices keep climbing, the headlines change by the hour, and so much feels out of our control.
Community organizations feel it too. Funding that groups counted on for years can disappear overnight, as some of our own partners learned when federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants were cut.
When so much is unknown, it matters to put your money where you know it will count. A gift to Embolden WI is one of the few things you can be sure of right now. It reaches real people in real Wisconsin communities, doing work that does not stop when times get hard.
Not a bet. A sure thing.
A gift to Embolden WI on October 14 is the rare investment with a guaranteed return. Every dollar goes to work right here in Wisconsin, through the grassroots, community-led groups we support as a fiscal sponsor.
These are the rising organizations that often get overlooked by big funders: young, nimble, and led by the people closest to the issues. When you give, the return looks like:
PATCH: Teens ages 14 to 18 learning to speak up for their own health, and providers learning to really listen
ECCHO: Women of color building the leadership, organizing skills, and power to change health outcomes in their own communities
Building Families Alliance of WI: Wisconsin families fighting for infertility treatment coverage and the freedom to build a family
Healthy School Meals for All WI: A push for free, healthy breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in the state
Cade's Light: Young people building mental wellbeing and confidence
Roots4Change Cooperative: Doulas supporting immigrant families through pregnancy and birth
There is no house edge here. Your money does not disappear into a payout table. It shows up as programs, people, and change you can see in your own community. And because Embolden WI is a 501(c)(3), your gift may also be tax deductible.
Make your difference on October 14
Wisconsin Roots Rising, our Day of Giving, is Wednesday, October 14. Early giving is already open, so you can make your gift today.
Here is how to make a difference you can count on:
Give to Embolden WI or one of our partner teams .
Share the campaign with friends who want their money to matter.
No odds. No gamble. Just a gift that makes a difference, guaranteed. Community-driven. Wisconsin-rooted. Rising together.
A note with care
We know gambling is not a lighthearted topic for everyone. For some people and families, it is a real and painful struggle. If gambling is causing harm in your life or the life of someone you love, you are not alone, and help is free and confidential. You can call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) or chat online, any time, day or night.
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