There’s no typo in the title. I’m not a sports bettor.
I do enjoy casino games, though. I’ve dabbled at blackjack, Pai Gow, and Caribbean Stud, but the interactions I’ve had with sportsbooks can be accounted for on just one hand. I’ve placed a few bets for a family member and even cashed in a ticket at one time.
But I think sports betting should be best left to those who understand over/under, spreads, and the vig.
So, you may find it a bit odd that I have taken this position in the whole sports betting matter.
But I see the excited punters in Las Vegas taking up a seat in front of 50 high-definition screens, cheering together, playfully booing at each other, and enjoying their favorite teams with a bit of financial incentive to boot.
I’ve also read some of the research on how much betting can contribute to a state’s coffers. Look at the lottery. In many states, proceeds are allocated to public education, veterans benefits, and other charitable causes.
Just because it’s not legally accepted, it doesn’t mean that people aren’t going to do it anyway. In fact, the American Gaming Association has pegged sports betting as a $150 billion industry, and until recently, the vast majority of that money was generated through illegal wagers.
So, a few months ago when the 1992 Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, that outlawed sports betting in sportsbooks and casinos was overturned, I was on the side of Chris Christie and the New Jersey legislature, applauding the change.
Before I get into more of the reasons behind my position, I do want to clarify that PASPA was overturned, but that’s not the same as brand new federal legislation.
What it accomplished was to put the decision-making process into the hands of each state.
States that are passing or are soon to pass individual laws permitting sports betting typically include a number of certain caveats.
For example, there are application and licensing procedures that potential operators and providers must go through. These are based on their qualifications and financial status, among other things.
Substantial fees are usually associated with not only starting up but maintaining any sports betting service. After all, the states want to benefit by taking their cuts.
Other states are leaning toward yes but aren’t in any rush. Slowly but surely, US players should see more bookmaking availability without having to sneak into a back room or bet with an unlicensed bookie. But it will all still be state-dependent with different program structures in place.
When you look at how much the lottery contributes to a state’s operations through both the direct financial benefit as well as driving more customers to small, independent retail locations, you can see how that could easily translate to sports betting.
If the bulk of the $150 billion has been attributed to illegal betting operations, why not convert those funds to schools, medical care, infrastructure, or other community-based needs?
I’d love to see formal programs in place where we could easily see the impact that new state-based legislation has made to the betterment of the residents in each state.
As the new laws are being passed, the economic impact and intended allocations may alleviate some non-bettor concerns.
Camaraderie sounds like an odd heading for an article about sports betting. But it’s one of the things that I find most impressive about the sports betting concept.
Unlike casino games, like slots or keno, where you’re on your own with independent pursuits, sports betting is different. The bettors are primarily fans who have commonality with the love of sports as well as the individual teams and players on the board.
I know that some punters will place a bet and leave right away. But they may still be sharing their tips with friends or watching the game with other people who may also have a stake in the outcome.
If they stay in the sportsbook and watch with others, it’s even that much more of a social experience and an additional benefit.
The social aspect is just one of the things that I do envy about people who are passionate about sports. But there’s also so much more than just watching the matches.
Hardcore fans study stats, memorize players’ abilities, scope out the competition, and pay attention to anything and everything regarding their favorites. There are clubs devoted to followers of one team or another. You can buy merchandise, buy tickets to the actual live game, and sometimes even attend pre-game rallies and tailgate parties.
Sports fans have other like minds to agree with them, and that commonality pulls them together and makes them feel united.
It’s also entertaining to spar with fans of opposing teams. Fans can get into lively debates that may sometimes be a bit too heated as one tries to convince the other why they’re right. They never do, but they certainly have fun in the process.
Betting on sports and other competitions has been around for centuries. While some people devote themselves to sports betting, there are plenty of others who are team-loyal and just want to put some money where their mouth is.
The states and the different organizations that they fund will benefit. Licensed and approved bookmakers and sportsbooks will also provide a social outlet and safe means for punters to place some bets.
Cigarettes, alcohol, contact sports…any of these things may be declared as “wrong” by some people. Not only are they acceptable in today’s society, though, but who should be judge and jury of what is right and wrong when it comes to sports betting?
How does your neighbor, friend, or colleague placing a sports bet affect you? No one is forcing you into a sportsbook or holding a gun to your head and demanding that you stake some cash on the NBA finals.
Now, if you have an anti-betting position, you’ll probably argue that sports betting can lead to crimes like theft. But you’ve got to remember that it’s safer to participate in a regulated industry with safeguards in place to try to curb overspending and out-of-control wagering.
Also, these sportsbooks aren’t taking IOUs. Punters are coming up with money right up front. It’s just like casino operations where cash is king. You’re not inserting a credit card into a machine and betting from it directly. Yes, you can take a credit card advance, but it’s a more involved procedure.
The United Kingdom has bookmakers on High Streets all across the country. You’ll see recognizable chains like Ladbrokes, William Hill, and other big names that are trustworthy and reliable.
Gambling is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, and they have regulations and programs to protect the players and help to keep everything in check.
Sports betting in the US isn’t going to be a free-for-all, either. There are permits to secure, percentages to pay the state, and other necessary licensing and regulatory compliance.
By no means am I saying that there won’t be some negatives attached to the activity. But I also think that sports fans should have a right to choose for themselves.
Just like every other subject you could come up with, there are different viewpoints. That’s what makes us human. We all have our opinions, our values, and our past experiences from which to draw upon to come up with our conclusions.
The United States is a massive country, probably too big for absolutes across the board. State governments have a better handle on their needs, their residents, and their capabilities.
Some of our states are the size of an entire European country, so the restructuring of the sports betting policy on a smaller scale makes sense to me.
Of course, not every local government is going to hop on the betting bandwagon. If you’re interested in how yours is leaning, we’ve put together a glimpse at the current position of some US states.
You can also check out some of our other articles about the overturn of PASPA if you’re interested in learning more about the ins and outs of the Supreme Court decision.
It’ll be interesting to see how sports betting evolves and if the economic impact is as substantial and some people anticipate. In any case, though, it’s an opportunity for each state to prove itself.
With careful deliberation, effective regulation, and monitoring, it can be a win-win-win for the betting providers, the punters, and the worthy community programs that can benefit from the proceeds.
I realize that anything in life can have benefits and detriments. The internet, for example, was designed to be a source of information and creativity, as well as bring people together, all positives.
But it has also become a source of trolls, the dark web, and other underhanded activities. While we all wish that it could be cleaned up, safe, and always to our liking, we have to be willing just to steer clear of specific websites.
So, I know sports betting will bring challenges with its perks. But from my perspective, I think the pros outweigh the cons, and it’s better to have those choices.
The post Why I’m Glad Sports Betting Is Legal in the US Even Though I Don’t Bet appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
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