Why Gambling Should Be Legal
With access to a regulated online gambling market and legitimate land-based casinos, players are protected. Instead of fans flocking to offshore betting sites when they can`t go to Nevada to bet on sports, legalized sports betting gets people to bet. Although sports betting was illegal from 1992 to 2018, it was still a popular activity among fans. The problem was that most people were doing it illegally with a bookmaker or online via an offshore betting site. Although sports betting accounts for only a small percentage of all gambling in the country, it has an even lower proportion of gambling addiction cases. ESPN reported that less than 1 percent of all callers to the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling hotline in 2014 cited sports betting as the form of gambling they struggled the most with. These hotlines are much more likely to receive calls regarding lotteries, scratch cards, and casino activities such as slots and poker. I have nothing against gambling. I grew up with Texas Lotto and I have an uncle who is still salty about Michael Jordan`s push, partly because the Jazz lost the final, but mostly because of the money he had on it. He still tells the story, and I still laugh.
Betting on games can undoubtedly be a lot of fun – it puts skin on the line, adds another layer of complexity and creates memories. Also, people should be able to do whatever they want with their money. They will too, as some hedge fund managers discovered last week. Would this addiction disappear if gambling were made illegal? This is extremely unlikely. The fact is, however, that sports betting should have been legal a long time ago. It is only now that the government is taking steps to legalize it. As its popularity continues to grow, it`s foolish to know why it took the government so long to legalize it. But of course, some people are against the legality of sports betting. If you are one of those people, we are here to explain the reasons why sports betting should be legalized.
Many people are asking casinos to do more to protect players. It is estimated that in the UK alone, up to two million people have a gambling problem and 21% of gamblers admit they gamble more than they can afford. The Delaware lottery placed nearly 2 million more sports bets in 2014 than in 2009, and the Delaware Council on Problem Gambling says it hasn`t seen a noticeable increase in sportsbook-related calls. This may indicate that sports betting is not as addictive as many other types of gambling. Here are several reasons why sports betting should be legal: If you are one of these people, we will explain why you should allow sports betting. We don`t see the need to bet on a score. Residents of any state should be allowed to vote on the legality of sports betting. Given its growing popularity, it`s not easy to see why the government waited so long to legalize it.
However, some people oppose the authorization of sports betting. So why shouldn`t they allow them? Another great advantage of legalizing sports betting is the taxes it brings. Gambling in general is often a big boost to the economy, and sports betting would make it even bigger. Taxes from sports betting often go to roads and education, two necessary pieces of our infrastructure. A study by Oxford Economics estimated gross gaming revenue at $11.9 billion a year if sports betting was legalized in casinos, retail stores and online sites. In addition to the tax that benefits the economy, the jobs provided can also be colossal. In 2018, for example, the gaming industry employed 166,741 people in the state of Nevada. At the end of the day, no one is forced to participate in sports betting. Of course, more sports betting will of course increase gambling addiction, but with a lower proportion of gambling addiction cases compared to other types of games such as slots, lottery and scratch cards. A person`s choice to participate in sports betting is entirely voluntary.
I am simply arguing that the opportunity to participate should be there for those who want it. I think the positives far outweigh the negatives and sports betting would do a lot more good than harm. Since not all states have legalized sports betting yet, illegal sports betting organizations are not taxed by the government. That is why the Community itself cannot benefit from its gains. This is one of the main arguments of sports betting enthusiasts regarding the legalization of sports betting. If the sport is already so popular, if betting is not legal, imagine how much more popular it could be if sports betting became legal in every state? With legalization, viewership will increase, giving players more motivation to play and fans to watch games.