Should sports gambling be legalized
Internet sports’ gambling has become very popular all and bettors all over the world are asking “should sports gambling be legalized or not?” The ease and convenience with which one can place bets on any sporting event on the net, the wide choice of sportsbooks and the excitement and thrill of the game ensures that sports betting is here to stay.
The aspect of sports gambling that worries most gamblers is of course the legality of it all. Sports gambling activities are considered illegal in most states of the US save one or two like Nevada and Montana. Therefore it is imperative to find out all gambling laws in your state and jurisdiction before placing your bets online so that you won’t be on the wrong side of the law. The gambling laws differ from nation to nation and from state to state.
Past history of illegal gambling in the US reveals that there were plenty of scandals and money-laundering etc that have led to prohibition and regulation of gambling. It is thought that if wagering on a teams wins or losses of a particular game was made legal, while all other bets on outcomes like point spreads etc were banned, would result in the destruction of the illegal bookmakers market and finally cut down the corruption in sporting events.
Sports’ betting is actually illegal in many parts of the world but there have always been exceptions. It is difficult to tackle and generalize sports betting laws and the legality of sports betting. Legal articles in the US state that the first law to be followed is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1994. This law actually stipulates that operation of gambling in whatever form is illegal except for the few states in the US that includes the state of Nevada.
Sports fans consider sports betting as a hobby in Europe, which also helps to promote the leagues, games and players. Therefore the Europeans regard sports betting as beneficial to a certain degree and not criminal or illegal. In other words, they support its regulation and restrictions at the same time do not think or label it as “illegal”.
Whether sports’ gambling is considered illegal or not, online sports wagering will continue to be one of the most popular ways of placing bets. Sports enthusiasts will not refrain from placing bets through offshore sportsbooks. Laws do sanction malpractices in betting and some legitimate betting websites do exist for the entertainment of those who enjoy the game. Apart from this, sports enthusiasts – especially basketball, football, baseball fans etc – consider sports gambling a terrific way to make a lot of money.
If you are wondering “should sports gambling be legalized?” then you are no different from thousands of avid gamblers who struggle with the issues of betting laws etc in the US. It is prudent to note that gambling does have a darker side which is addiction and threatening the integrity of particular sporting events. It is because of these repercussions that opponents of sports betting oppose the legality of sports gambling.