Its been a month since the Super Bowl. March Madness is here and the NCAA march to the Final Four is about to begin.
What is the common element between the two ? Gambling.
EVeryone is going to be asked to participate in an office , school or online pool to predict the winner, and most likely some other derivative outcome. The score after a quarter, number of wins for a conference, whatever.
And when we get to the final two teams, then someone from each school is going to make a public wager that prominently features something of pride from their school.
And all of it is illegal. And everyone does it. We just hope we dont get Neuheisel’d. That someone we work with wont turn us in and make a big stink over it for some reason.
So why is it that we can and do bet on the outcome of the big sporting events in this country by the millions, but gambling is illegal ?
Why is it that we can go to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or any of a hundred plus boats, reservations or other locations, in municipalities who found themselves in a position where they needed money ? What made gambling ok in those locations, but not others ?
Of course we can buy lottery tickets everywhere and anywhere. Its so easy, that we never read about suckers falling for the email lottery scams.
Of course there is also poker. THe same game many of us have played penny ante since we were kids, can now be found on tv every other minute. Its probably the most widely broadcast “sport” and its only reason for being is gambling.
Then of course there is gambling online. Not just poker, but hundreds of other games that have been around for a long time, with many others being invented by the week.
Can we live in an era of any more hypocrisy ?
Whats worse, is that those who are against gambling on a national basis seem to have this perception that gambling outlawed is gambling controlled. Anybody truly believe that ?
So instead of just being honest and straight forward about the whole thing and making it a source of revenue for local, state and federal government, we bury our head in the sand. If we are truly afraid of gambling addiction and ruin, we will find ourselves in far better position to support those in need of help by letting them stay above ground, rather than forcing them underground.
Gambling addiction is no laughing matter, but then neither is systemic hypocrisy. Do as I say, not as a I do might work with the kids at home, but it makes any efforts to reduce the action laughable.
Its time we recognize that people gamble. Some more than others. Some not at all. But gambling no longer has a stigma attached to it. ITs something just about everyone does, particularly this time of year. THere isnt a single community that I have ever heard of where anyone who purchases a lottery ticket or participates in a March Madness or Super Bowl pool is chastised and excluded from community events.
Its time to make gambling legal on a national basis. Rather than wasting millions on fruitless enforcement efforts, we can gain billions in tax revenues and keep jobs that have migrated offshore for the online gambling industry here in the US.
Its about time that the tens of millions of us that putu our 5 or 10 dollars for the office March Madness pool be allowed to do so legally.
Im sure Rick Neuheisel thought it was no big deal. ALl it takes is 1 zealot to turn someones life upside down. All because we let hypocrisy ring from sea to shining sea
becomes in final will unconditionally
Comment by when grass expect soldier steal -
Sorry I accidently added a period to my last post in my url. It’s http://www.BryanHauer.com where you can read a similar article. I’d love to get feedback.
Comment by BryanHauer.com -
I agree with Mark that the local, state and federal governments are missing out on a ridiculous amount of revenue that could be generated by legalizing gambling.
The thought that government officials are trying to protect us is utterly ridiculous. The only reason they haven’t hopped on board is because their lack of knowledge, (mainly technology). That is why we are still governed by outdated laws.
I posted a similar article at my site http://www.BryanHauer.com. Let me know what you guys think, what points I’m missing or where I’m going wrong.
Comment by BryanHauer.com -
its illegal because like drugs people get hooked and can not control themselves. its a rich man’s drug. poor people gamble a few dollars or even hundreds on lotto tickets or football pots or something that they can win a few grand to help pay off debt. behind bills, maxed out credit cards, auto repairs, or they might just blow it on drugs, alcohol and sex. richer folks will gamble thousands and thousands because they have the money to do it. they dont do it for the payday because they will just bet that away, for them its the thrill of gambling, win or lose. watch the movie, two for the money, terrible movie but what pacino says is true. they need to lose, its their fix.
because there is no way to control their addiction you have to make it illegal.
luis
Comment by Luis -
so, whats the problem again?
Comment by Mike S. -
FYI- Office Pools are legal as long as no one is making any profit whatsoever .01 or more to run the pool, fees etc, as long as the whole pool is paid out it is legal
Comment by Frank Mascolo III -
If a person ever starts thinking that you can make money without working they are off the path. That’s the central concern.
Comment by Bland Response -
I’d rather keep it under the table. States only allow gambling if the government can take a cut for themselves. If states recognized office pools as “legal,” I bet there would be MORE intrusions on your annual NCAA pool, b/c they want to make sure it’s taxed, regulated, etc. No thanks.
Comment by Anonymous Coward -
Mark
Hey,if you legalize gambling then legalization of drugs and prostitution can not be far behind.
Frankie
Comment by Frank Mascolo III -
If you believe that Congress doesn’t believe it can outlaw gambling, online or offline, check out HR 4777 – Internet Gambling Prohibition Act – http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-4777, once again introduced by Rep. Robert Goodlatte.
I’m not sure why Rep Goodlatte spends so much taxpayers’ time on this. There has to be better things for him to do.
If, for any reason, you want to write your congressman to express your displeasure, go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/
and send him/her an email.
Comment by Liz -
As I read over the post on hypocrisy I tend to agree with the majority of (if not everything) you said Mark. The comments afterward I also tended to agree with. The legalization of gambling (and other things) needs to take place in most states and I live in a fairly conservative one (Ohio); not quite like Utah yet. Betting on sports has happened at all most every place I’ve worked at; places from high tech software to low tech stocking. It’s a part of life, people will do it with or without the governments permission or regulation. The government could make a killing on the taxation of state gambling centers where everyone could come place a bet, win or loose. It’s usually the thrill of maybe being able to win that drives people or the need of money (which is dangerous).
The key fact everyone forgets is that America, this great land of freedom and liberal thought was founded by prudes who thought england was too liberal. I find things such as the gambling restrictions, prostitution (Which is only legal in 4 counties in the whole country. Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, and Lake Tahoe all in Nevada and that’s being challenged.), drinking, gun ownership, lewd media from Hollywood tend only to be the business of the one performing or in the act itself.
If I wanted to get plastered, pay for favors, and go bet on a sports, watch dirty harry, and not bother anyone I shouldn’t be restricted by the morals of the neighbor who believes my soul is rotting away and I won’t make it to heaven, because they saw me walk out of the store with a 6-pack and a “lady of the night”. But, I digress.
The problem with the country is we’re becoming more and more conservative, our freedoms are being restricted, and there are campaigns to limit and control all most everything from gambling to the way you have sex in your own house. It’s not going to stop happening until someone else realizes it’s not the man making a bet with the bookie that’s degrading, hurting the community, or corrupting our children. It’s the parent that doesn’t take the time to explain to the child what’s happening and why they should or shouldn’t do it; that’s the problem. So I say, let the dice roll and let everyone dictate their own lives. So concludes on my rant, that’s what I have my own blog for 🙂
Comment by Rob B. -
There are two main issues with gambling
1. As Mark pointed out the hypocrisy. A sane society can simply not tolerate a bunch of people thinking they are pulling a fast one on the law. This includes the small bracket pools, super bowl contests, etc. These minor pools should be legalized for the simple reason that people won’t think that they are getting away with something.
2. Gambling needs to be controlled in some way. Society might very well want to regulate it across the board, but it needs to be regulated. Probably the best reason for regulating it is for the collection of the tax revenue from it. A gambler’s income and the house’s income, whether generated legally or note, is already taxable at the federal level (and probably at the state level too), but as long as it remains underground, efficient/orderly collection of the tax is nearly impossible.
Comment by Mike L -
Well said Mark, I agree with the gambling remarks. I just wish the Mavs wouldnt have gambled with the Spurs Thursday night!
Comment by Discountaudio101.com -
Careful, Brother Cuban. Before you know it, somebody’s gonna accuse you of being some kind of wanton liberal fanatic. =)
Comment by Charles -
The separation of the Law from God is what has created the hypocrisy and the inconsistency. There really is no difference between God and Law. The issue is who the Lawgiver/Lawmaker is. If it is men then what we are seeing is what we get. Hypocrisy and inconsistency. It used to be that there was at least an appearance of a Godly Lawgiver in the USA, but now even that appearance is disappearing and has all but disappeared. The plight of man to figure it all out is a difficult one but there is a saying that you can’t legislate morality which seems ridiculous to me as that is precisely what you must legislate. Mark, would you let your kid watch that academy awards show you attended? They kept playing montages of so called “great” movies but the funny thing was that most those movies were older cleaner movies. I think it can be summed up by that song that won a “great and respected” academy award in the category of “Achievement in music written for motion pictures”. The song that was the great “achievement” was deemed to be “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”. Talk about hypocrisy, you have all of hollywood honoring a song with a title about a despicable illegal activity. And awarding an Oscar for a song about it. If all that matters is what makes money and there is no law against anything to establish any morality whatsoever in the media, not only would I hope that families tune out by the masses, but if they don’t, they will just continue to contribute to the degrading of society. I for one would like to actually be able to watch a tv show without constant filth but it’s become next to impossible so therefore there are basketball games… although you can’t make it through a TNT broadcast game without having to turn the channel during the commercials. Imagine a young child being subjected to the commercials during those games or during the commercials for American Idol. Hollywood isn’t going to be moral and give people who want wholesome shows anything good unless the government makes them or unless someone shows it can be profitable. I believe it can and would. I know there was an experiment with rats done at one time where a rat could get a small dose of cocaine every few minutes if the feeder were nudged. The rats nudged until they died. Hollywood and society is dying in my opinion because they are sick rats. There are others – many others – who aren’t of that mindset but the rats are trying to feed their food to everyone else. Trying to decide on a consistent and non-hypocritical law means that there must be a proper lawgiver. Who is that going to be? It’s quite in disarray at this present time. Hypocrisy rules at the moment.
Comment by JT -
Well, everything I was about to post was just posted by Ray Balestri. The federal government cannot pass laws on gambling (although I’m sure if they wanted to they’d use a “public safety” excuse or something similar to how they got into making federal drug laws). If you want to get a push in Texas for legalized gambling I’d suggest contacting your senators and local congressman in addition to Ron Paul (14th district)…he’s Libertarian and very willing to fight for less government control over individuals.
Comment by Keith -
The NY Times had a couple recent articles on the Internet gambling meme–
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/16/business/bet.php and http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/business/25gamble.html?ei=5088&en=2f11c3b65543aa9a&ex=1293166800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
Apologies for not consolidating these w/ my prior post.
Comment by John -
Hey folks, there is nothing stopping gambling from being legal in Texas — if we’re willing to vote in state senators and representatives who make that issue part of their platform. That’s what voters did in Nevada, and that’s why both gambling and prostitution are legal there. Face it, we have the government we deserve. If we all directed our efforts and energies to voting rather than blogging text-messaging, we could make a difference. (Note to Mark: the federal government is Constitutionally powerless to legalize gambling nationwide, since it falls within the powers reserved to the States.)
Comment by Ray Balestri -
Why, as Mr. Cuban advocates, gambling should be legalized– http://www.chrisfmasse.com/2/2006/2006-03-06_prediction_markets_awards.html
And how to optimize selection in your NCAA office pool– http://www.sport-groups.com/goto/167854/Poologic_in_New_York_Times_article.html#msg_167854 (and http://www.poologic.com)
Comment by John -
…And to use Rick Neuheisel as your example, as if he was the victim of a witch hunt. He didn’t participate in a $5 office pool, he bet several thousand dollars in a high stakes scheme. The NCAA rules against gambling on NCAA sports are VERY clear.
Comment by Jimmy (The Greek) -
Big Brother jealously guards its gambling monopoly just like a mob boss would.
Comment by Homer -
This reminded me of your “The end of boredom” post. In it you used “all of us” and “we” alot, here you use “EVeryone is going”. You often like to generalize this way. I work at a high-tech company where people are more likely to be a part of your general “we” in “The end of boredom” but hardly any fall into the “everyone” of this post. I never heard the Super Bowl mentioned once at work. There were no office pools that I was aware of and I suspect there will be no March Madness bracket sheets going around. I did hear a gentleman talk about the Rose Bowl on line in the one cafe (he went to the game and was a Texas alumni), the cricket World Cup has been mentioned on an internal mailing list but thats it for sports, and an officemate chatted with me about the Winter Olympics (hockey, curling, and speed skating) but thats about it. Sorry my comment is not about gambling, its just that these generalizations strike a chord.
Comment by Brian -
I have a friend who’s family owns a pool hall in south, TX. That community has just outlawed pool halls, because of “gambling”. They can keep the business going, but they aren’t allowed to sell the business. All they can do is sell the tables. So they have just got *ucked.
The arguments are that the children must be saved from the bad elements. This is the base argument for all the “evils”. Why is it that a man can’t take a vacation for a while, be it gambling, prostitution, drugs or whatever. If you don’t want them participating in those activities, don’t take them there. I am getting tired of western puritan christian ideology being forced down my throat. *lowjobs are illegal in most states. Pornography is completely illegal in Utah. How are bjs harming any children.
If your attitude is “leave, if you don’t like it”. Then take your lilly white nazi ass and find you a group of bald teenagers that say they are a part of the forth reich to have some beers with.
Comment by Dirty Muffin -
For great commentary on consensual crimes please read “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if You Do” by Peter McWilliams.
J
Comment by Jason Stoddard -
Bravo Mark. It’s about time a public figure said it. Now please blog about child support with the same fervor.
Comment by Eddie -
In most states recreational gambling is legal. Office pools would be legal almost everywhere. They may violate employer rules though.
Running games of chance professionally is generally illegal, so you can’t become a bookmaker or spread a craps table. But you can bet on a game with a friend.
Comment by Matt Maroon -
#7 BobR
“big money operations” tend to make that much money because everyone in the U.S. must travel to these few locations. All the “big money” is coming to them. I don’t buy into your crime and community issues arguement, but the fact that the money will stay in it’s place, makes your arguement futile anyways. It’s kind of like if we all had to go to Vegas to buy groceries, but we don’t, so what’s the deal?
Gambling should be legal, and that money should be kept in our own communities. I want to play blackjack on the platinum level.
Comment by Chisum -
I completely agree with the first response. I don’t think gambling should be illegal and would feel the same way about prostitution. Who am I to say that someone who wants to pay or be paid for sex is wrong? They’re not hurting anyone, so what’s the big deal. The fact that gambling online is “illegal” is stupid. I enjoy gambling online and do it occasionally, however, I’d rather the money that I lose gambling online stays in this country instead of going to some offshore account.
Another great post from you Mark..I’m a huge fan of yours and enjoy reading your opinions.
Comment by Mark Olivier -
I very rarely feel you miss the point on anything Mark, and I’m a huge fan. But I think that there is another perspective on this one. Clearly, there is a huge difference between the sort of gambling we see in Vegas and Atlantic City compared to what we see across the country in March Madness pools. In fact, law enforcement has often come out and publicly stated that they really don’t pay any attention to the typical sports betting you see at the office. What is a problem, and what (sane) anti-gambling individuals say is that they don’t want gambling rings and wholesale gambling businesses, along with all the potential crime and changes to the community that can come with it. Whether that’s true or not depends on the individual’s perspective on the issue, but my point is simply that we need to remember there is a big difference from small office betting among individuals, and big money operations that make gambling their business. Thanks for listening and I appreciate this blog and your work with the Mavs and your film company, as well as your lasting involvement with Pittsburgh. I wish our ABA Pittsburgh Xplosion could learn to put on a show like you do!
Comment by BobR -
#4 Adam – Las Vegas & co. won’t be lobbying against online gambling, they’re simply waiting to get into it. A couple of them tried with offshore companies, but because of all the legal hassles they found it wasn’t worth it for them – yet. Las Vegas as a city has been selling the experience for a while. I think they’d warm up to online gambling fast and not only use it to make some very fast cash, but to funnel people towards their actual brick and mortar establishments.
Comment by David -
So, are there plans for slot machines in all Landmark Theaters? Or maybe Keno at the AAC?
Time to check the portfolio for some Golden Palace stock.
Comment by Mike G. -
Online gambling won’t be legal in the US for a long time. Vegas/AC/Reservation lobbying groups work overtime to keep it out of bounds because they’ll lose alot of their revenue. The same as the movie theater owners don’t want universal HDTV Video-on-Demand of movies with no window (ok, Landmark are the exception) because then they have to try and sell ‘the experience’ rather than the product selling itself.
Besides, the WTO has already deemed the US online gambling laws to be in breach of their agreement, but who can make them do anything?
David Stern & Paul Tagliabue need to get franchises in the fastest growing city in America.
Comment by Adam -
The issue is not as simple as you make it out to be and as such I must disagree with your take.
Sure people gamble on pools at the office, beit March Madness or a football pool that looks at the points after each quarter. There are a ton of other types of “Gambling” that takes place, however this is done amongst friends and relatives. People getting together and having a good time.
On the reversal you have the “BIG TIME Legal” gambling of Vegas and other locations. Fine resorts and betting halls to play in games of chance. Yet in these cities and in this industry, you will find a high amount of revenue being used to beat the cheaters…so you still have “Law Enforcement” just a different kind that you are discussing in your blog.
Sure you have the lottery system, saddly this is a system that buries its head in the sand. People see the so-called revenue/tax money going to “Education”…yet they fail to look at the people who play their last dollar on a lottery ticket, when they could have bought themselves or their child another meal.
I will admit, I have played my lotter tickets, my own pools and even gambled in Vegas…I have only done so because it was around. If it was not around, I would NOT miss it.
Now we talk about the pain of addiction, and with gambling we only see the surface of addiction. There is a large part of society that is dysfunctional and thus tend to use a “Magic Pill”, be it alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, eating…you name it, we all have our vices.
To legalize gambling simply for financial gain is wrong. At some point people in business, must stand up and make choices that don’t make business sense, but rather serve to help humanity.
If anything, I would encourage Mark Cuban to make a stand against gambling. Life is worth more than a big payday!!! I say this as an insider in the Gaming industry. The money that is made by those in the Gaming industry is insane, and the majority of the people/customers of this industry have no clue just how much money is made.
The Gaming Industry is perhaps the biggest public disorder money maker since the Tobacco industry…of course I haven’t even touched on the Alcohol industry…
Comment by jgprince -
Are you friends with Wayne Gretzky?
Comment by Art -
Laws in this country fail to reflect the reality our society to a tremendous degree – whether it’s gambling, speed limits, sex, drugs, rock & roll, etc. The problem is there is no agreement on a national basis as to what these rules should be. “Morality” is defined very differently in Dallas or Butte or New York or San Francisco. One could argue for Federal laws for the stuff we can all agree on (murder, rape, theft, etc), and for local laws for the finer points – but that falls on its face in the Internet age, where even national borders vanish in online commerce.
Ultimately, it comes down to the need for tolerance. People simply need to leave each other alone when it comes down to issues that don’t affect them directly and personally. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to help our friends and our community stay away from destructive behavior (for instance, the difference between having fun on a weekend versus addictive behavior). As the world effectively shrinks because of better communication, all of us will brush up against stuff that we find personally unsavory. We’ll just have to learn deal with it in a peaceful and tolerant manner – any other path leads to hatred, bigotry, and the occasional suicide bombing.
Comment by Erik Carlseen -
I completely agree – however shouldn’t one make the same arguement for prostitution? Shouldn’t it be up to individual people to decide what to do with their lives? As long as they are not harming anybody, where is the problem?
Comment by Kevin Klotzbucher -
I have a friend who’s family owns a pool hall in south, TX. That community has just outlawed pool halls, because of “gambling”. They can keep the business going, but they aren’t allowed to sell the business. All they can do is sell the tables. So they have just got *ucked.
Comment by runescape money -
It used to be that there was at least an appearance of a Godly Lawgiver in the USA, but now even that appearance is disappearing and has all but disappeared. The plight of man to figure it all out is a difficult one but there is a saying that you can’t legislate morality which seems ridiculous to me as that is precisely what you must legislate.
Comment by wow powerleveling -
That is why we are still governed by outdated laws…
Comment by whales -
Here in germany we have a especially curious law. Gambling, if its real gambling and win or loss is decided by fortuity only (for instance roulette) is illegal. Exception: A few some state controlled ca2inos. But every form of gambling if not only Dame Fortune decides who wins (p0ker and every game with two or more players) is allowed. Dont ask me about the logic…
PS: Damn, it was really hard to post this not to be in the know which words are blacklisted… 😀
Comment by Laender -
Hi
I have a friend who’s family owns a pool hall in south, TX. That community has just outlawed pool halls, because of “gambling”. They can keep the business going, but they aren’t allowed to sell the business. All they can do is sell the tables. So they have just got *ucked.
The arguments are that the children must be saved from the bad elements. This is the base argument for all the “evils”. Why is it that a man can’t take a vacation for a while, be it gambling, prostitution, drugs or whatever. If you don’t want them participating in those activities, don’t take them there. I am getting tired of western puritan christian ideology being forced down my throat. *lowjobs are illegal in most states. Pornography is completely illegal in Utah. How are bjs harming any children.
If your attitude is “leave, if you don’t like it”. Then take your lilly white nazi ass and find you a group of bald teenagers that say they are a part of the forth reich to have some beers with.
Comment by photos tatouages -
Relatedly, bills currently in Congress to more aggressively discourage on-line gambling– http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20060405/tc_pcworld/125316
(If instead of “gambling” I use in the above introduction a particular word describing a card game, this comment won’t submit despite the obvious connection to the blog entry. Even if over zealous in this specific instance, it’s probably a reasonable heuristic that the filter uses. Appropriately, NY Times magazine identified seminal ideas of 2005, one of them being how Mr. cuban popularized the anti-splog meme– http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/magazine/11ideas_section3-20.html?ex=1291957200&en=6dc0074e660b7c18&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss)
Comment by JohnD -
i will often look her in…so nice site
Comment by Bet-Community.com -
Somehow I missed this post the first time around 🙂 I just wanted to say that when I was in Vegas last August I put a whole $5 down on the Mavs, so you need to win!!! The odds were 12 to 1 and I could use the money 🙂 Love your site Mark, keep up the good work! Kim
Comment by Kim -
Mark, I’ve been asking myself those same questions for many years. I am a hugh fan of yours. Keep up the good work. Tell the rest of us how to mount a defence to this. I think you are brillant and I read every one of your articles. Thanks again. Have a great day.
David Gaines
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Comment by David L. Gaines -
how can u not gamble when u can do that..refer link 40 bucks wins a million.
Comment by Matt -
Nice page you made here. I think i will make a link of your page at my homepage.
My page is new and i will update it as often as i’ve got some free day for doing some important hompepage upgrades. BET-Community.com is the name of my page.
Have a nice day
Steffen from Germany
Comment by Steffen -
its a rich man’s drug. poor people gamble a few dollars or even hundreds on lotto tickets or football pots or something that they can win a few grand to help pay off debt. behind bills, maxed out credit cards, auto repairs, or they might just blow it on drugs, alcohol and sex. richer folks will gamble thousands and thousands because they have the money to do it.
Comment by Donie -
very good!
Comment by 11nong -
The US Gov should legalize online gambling… They can fight it, but Western Union and other wire transfers will always exist.
Comment by Gambling man -
Two posts above nailed it. It is NOT illegal to play in a office pool. It is, however, a) illegal to organize the pool and take a percentage cut and/or b) not report your profits to the IRS.
“Gambling” is all around us. I am gambling right now by signing the purchase agreement on a $400,000 home. But my down payment is “bubble money” (ie, “house money” literally!). Too bad the escrow and title can’t get penalized for taking “their cut”…
Comment by greg -
Hi Mark,
I agree, the fact that gambling is illegal in both the US and Canada is completely ridiculous.
Making it legal would help our economy and stop our governments from wasting more tax dollars than they already are.
We can drink our brains out and smoke until our lungs are made or tar. Why is gambling such a worse activity than those.
Have a good one,
Dan
Comment by Dan Hodgson -
Listening to a show on ESPN radio the other day, they were discussing the issue of gambling on college brackets and IT’S NOT ILLEGAL unless someone takes a cut for putting together the event. If all the money is dispersed among the winners than it is NOT ILLEGAL to gamble in an office NCAA pool…online gaming is definitely another issue.
Comment by Dan -
Indicative odds on the NBA MVP race– http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmwD7MKsWCOFGjnhZ22bkJO8vLYF?slug=cnnsi-stretchrunshowd&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns
Comment by John -
gambling is very addicting. Ask Pete Rose
Comment by college guy -
There are quite a few sports gaming sites that are legal like protrade.com. But what about the stock market, isn’t putting your money on Wall Street considered a gamble?
If you want to combine sports pools and the stock market, try out Foxbroker.com
Comment by Alastair Mitchell -
wow well said. no wonder you are a bajillionaire.
Comment by Rob -
Well said – the hypocrisy is ridiculous. Last year the WTO ruled against the US regarding its strict policy against online gambling.
With the deadline approaching nothing has been done yet to comply with the ruling. If it is ok to gamble in Las Vegas or purchase lottery tickets in the state of Virginia, then these same rights most be granted through out the Nation and across the web.
Comment by Edward -
If you want to vote against the proposed ban on internet gambling, check out this poll on the Wall Street Journal:
http://discussions.wsj.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=wsjvoices&tid=3828&vote=2&submit=Vote
Comment by Liz -
Ok, so how about marijuana? DONT BE A HYPOCRITE…
Comment by Corey -
Mark, I’ve been asking myself those same questions for many years. I find it quite hypocritical that the same Republican senators trying to shut down online gambling never minded taking illegal gambling money from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Comment by gadget boy -