You might be wondering why there’s so much talk about sports betting when it’s still illegal in most places.
Here are some reasons why spooets betting should be legal in all 50 states.
To Keep The Sports World Afloat
You may be thinking that this is ridiculous because it’s already been proven that sports betting can be a source of tremendous wealth and often times the basis of successful businesses. Let’s look at an example of that. In 2010, the NBA became the first professional sports league to allow sports wagering on their games. The move was mostly seen as a response to the economic crisis at the time.
The following season, the NBA saw record revenue of over $14 billion and a massive increase in their TV ratings. It’s been estimated that about 70 million American adults regularly watch sports. That’s about one in four adults.
Given that the vast majority of people still prefer to bet on sporting events through illegal means, it’s easy to see how legalizing sports betting could potentially help to financially support the athletes and teams they love so much.
It’s The American Way
You might also be aware that like any other developed nation, the United States of America is a nation of avid sports fans. It would make sense, then, that the government would want to ensure that every state allows for the opportunity to bet on sports. If you accept this premise, then it’s easy to see how state-by-state legalization is the way to go.
The U.S. Constitution already provides for the opportunity to practice sports betting legally. The Fifth Amendment, for instance, permits citizens to “bear arms,” which has been interpreted to mean they have the right to own a gun and use it for hunting. This amendment was actually intended to provide protections for those who opposed gambling. Nowadays, it’s used as a form of legal sports betting.
The Amendment was initially challenged in the Supreme Court case of Bartnicki v. Vopper in 1918, but the courts ruled in favor of the NFL and its ability to restrict the activity of its players. The case was later revisited in the Supreme Court and in 1969, the amendment was officially recognized as providing lawful cover for sports betting.
It Helps To Predict The Outcome
Aside from the fact that legalizing sports betting provides an opportunity for people to indulge in a leisure activity and make some money, all states would also benefit from having a way to accurately predict the outcome of sporting events. In most states, this is already possible through traditional means of wagering (i.e., picking winning teams and/or playing against the odds).
However, there have been a number of reported cases of gamblers intentionally throwing games in an attempt to profit from betting on those games. One of the biggest examples of this behavior took place in 2003, when the New England Patriots were involved in a pay for play scandal where they accepted illegal bets from overseas. The team and its coach were later charged with numerous counts of fraud and had to pay a $25 million fine to the state of New Jersey.
It’s clear from all of this that while some states have legalized sports betting, the practice still remains extremely shady and is, therefore, not acceptable in most areas. It would, therefore, be wise for the general public to remain vigilant when it comes to preventing potential exploitation by any sports organizations or individuals.
It’s About Time
It’s been a point of contention for many years that professional sports leagues are in a bit of a quandary when it comes to allowing fans to bet on their games. On one hand, the legality of sports betting varies from state to state and can be largely governed by local ordinances. This provides a level of confusion for the leagues as they are forced to compete with illegal gambling operations in some areas and limited offerings in others.
On the other hand, the potential for creating a legal vacuum where betting is concerned is surely something that sports leagues don’t want to risk. If you believe that betting should be allowed in some capacity in sports, then it stands to reason that the leagues should have an arrangement where they act as a collective in setting the legal limits of wagering. Only in this way can they ensure that everyone participates within the system as it is regulated and controlled by the leagues themselves.
In the end, it comes down to this. Despite the fact that sports betting has been a part of American culture for more than a century, it remains a form of entertainment that is closely linked to illegal activity. The legalization of sports betting in all 50 states would provide a safer, more controlled environment where the practice can flourish under the watchful eye of the law.