If sportsbetting is SO BAD for Americans, then why..

[Bucsfan67]

Is it allowed in Vegas?

I know this sounds like a "generic" question, and maybe even a stupid one , but think about it....

If it is so bad, and so harmful to our society, why is it alllowed in Vegas? Why would the gov't say, ok, its bad, BUT you can do it here, in this one town, and thats it....

I mean they have already told us that online sporsbetting is the ONLY BAD THING......betting on state lotteries doenst hurt our youth, betting on horses doesnt hurt our youth, going to casinos doenst hurt our youth, only thing that hurts our youth, puts them in debt, and makes them blow their college tuition is gambling on sports......NOTHING ELSE


Can u imagine the gov't allowing murder and rape, but ONLY in Topeka, KS.....that would be the rape capital in the U.S.....outlaw it everywhere else, BUT we will allow this horrible thing in one city.....

Yet, they allow the horrible act of gambling on sports, in one city....

Another hypocritical move..

Wont be too long, if all this continues, that the networks start putting a little pressure on certain "government officials" when the ratings for these off the wall games almost dissappear, if we arent able to wager....you'll still have a small audience, for the guys who found locals, but not like it is now......hopefully then, the next tv contract for the sport is offered at about half, and the cycle continues......wont be long before everyone realizes, that alot of people like to bet, and it goes deeper than that, the effect of the betting, etc.....

Oh well, this is rambling, but just something i was thinking about..

Sorry i wasted your time..

[Whoson1st]

An Excellant Post!

[Joe]

As recollection serves me it had something to do with the crackdown on organized crime in the early part of this century. Elliot Ness and crew.

Vegas (and its legislators) at the time was completely controlled by organized crime. Gambling was a way of life, but most states had it banned.

As the cynics say - the deal went like this. In return for allowing gambling in Nevada the crime syndicates would pull back from the rest of the country. Many do not know, but the war on crime at that time was a toss-up. There was a very real possibility that the US government would lose.

It wound up being a win-win situation. Crime bosses had their business legitimized. The US government got to proclaim its victories all over the country and who cares about a small blot in the desert.

Another thing that not many know about is that AC casinos were given the option of having sports betting when they opened (early 70's) and did not pursue it.

[Jojo-Rex]

Dude nothing but the truth..The more I read and see..The more pissed off I get..this is like a bad dream..Hopefully when its over we will all have some youth left to enjoy it..Lifes too short to be deprived of something that most definately will be legal here one day..Its all about greed really..Stopping the offshores to one day monopolize the industry in the states so the gov gets a slice of pie..In the mean time we sit and twiddle our thumbs..Holding our breath each time we log into a site for the next bad news..My biggest fear would be these bastards somehow blocking internet access to our beloved sites..

FWIW- I am getting an "internal error" when trying to log into Pinnacle today..Still got pending NFL and Aussie Open futures..Hope its just temp..One freakin thing after another

When you really think about it..ITS SICK AS FUCK..Our Gov going balls to the walls to try to make it so we cant get our $ from the SBs.. May the doers of this act -ROT IN HELL

[Whoson1st]

So basically the government gave up the state of Nevada for gambling. You can bet sports there in other cities besides Vegas.

[HuskerFan]

dude i feel the same way...its 1:06 where i am right now...im watching vegas vacation on tbs...with the laptop on my lap...i just bet a few games....im reading these boards...checking my email...doing some stuff on ebay...i check scores every so often to see how the games are going....

is this so bad? im not out selling drugs...im not out committing crimes...im not out killing people...yet this goddamn govt is hell bent on stopping the group of people who are probably the most passive of anyone doing anything "illegal" right now...

it just doesnt make any sense to me...if guys wanna sit in the house, drink a few beers and bet on the computer...let them...they arent out causing trouble....


there are so many bigger problems out there yet they are hellbent on this problem....

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Whoson1st

So basically the government gave up the state of Nevada for gambling. You can bet sports there in other cities besides Vegas.

Pretty much... prostitution too. Ever wonder why that was only legal there too?

[Fletcher]

In 1931, when Nevada legalized gambling and quickie divorces(very lucrative at time) it was out of financial necessity. The state was down to 90,000 residents and dropping and most of those were old prospectors as that is all Nevada ever had was a boom and bust mining economy that was getting pretty played out by then. The Mob had nothing to do with the legalization of casinos there. Mob types were brought in to run the games because that is the only people who knew how. The state treasury was practically bankrupt. Any other state could have done the same thing but didn't.
Most laws in the USA are state laws as mandated by the Constitution. his was much more true in 1931 before the riduculous expansion of federal involvement into so many parts of American life and jurisprudence that has been happening steadily since WWII.
A great book about Nevada History and gambling expansion in general is: "The Money and the Power" by Denton and another author I don't remember.
Great read.

[Jojo-Rex]

I am sitting here watching an EPL soccer game (Blackburn-Manchester City)..Do U really think could enjoy this game if I did not have any action on it?..I want to freakin put a few bucks on the game and sit and enjoy it..Your telling me thats a crime?..GO FUCK YOURSELF

[Whoson1st]

Originally Posted by Joe

Pretty much... prostitution too. Ever wonder why that was only legal there too?

I had forgotten that--getting old!

So how does Nevada rank amoung the rest of the states in overall crime rate? I haven't seen any stats one way or the other.

[WildBill]

Its pretty simple. Sports leagues were not as powerful and betting on sports at the game sites was pretty commonplace when it first started in Nevada. Now TV drives the interest in sports and therefore the leagues are far more powerful. Make no mistake there is no sentiment that betting on sports is bad for you, just those who have the content don't want you to do it because they feel they own it and don't want others to make money off of it unless they get a cut. The leagues don't feel they can take a cut without people questioning the games so they just say its bad.

[Whoson1st]

If memory serves me correctly --during some years of the 1980's; Washington, D.C. was ranked as the murder capital of the the US. That was I think based on the number of murders committed there per number of residents.

I know DC isn't considered a state; but for crime statistics; I think they count it that way.

[Jagermeister]

There are more responsible bettors in Vegas. Same with Indian casinos.

JK

[Whoson1st]

What I'm trying to get at is the correlation between legalized gambling(sports betting, prostitution) and the overall crime rate.

When you consider that our NATION'S CAPITAL--should have been one of the safest placest to live in the US and it was NOT! At least during parts of the 80's; one of the WORST!

I'm thinking Nevada is (as a state) is in the top dozen safest states to live in. I have NO FACTS to back that up.

[K-ONE]

I'm just glad sportsbetting doesn't lead to sucking dicK!

[auditor]

The government is full of hypocrites. They say gambling is evil, unless you do it at Vegas or play the state lotto. You have Frist saying to the Southern Baptists gambling is wrong, while he was taking money from Harrah's.


Our government is run by a bunch of idiots...but good thing we out number them!


JOIN THE FIGHT TO SAVE ONLINE GAMBLING!
The Association of Players, Casinos, and Webmasters - APCW.org

[munson15]

Actually, Husker Fan, I think potheads may be the most passive group of people doing something illegal.

[NickPappagiorgio]

If gambling is so bad, why are the betting lines in every sports page in America? I mean, is the going rate for Coke or Weed in the newspaper? Is the going rate for a hooker in the local paper? The majority of Americans gamble, whether its sports, local poker game or casino. To make it illegal under the guise of National Security and Morality is a complete joke.

[Bucsfan67]

Originally Posted by NickPappagiorgio

If gambling is so bad, why are the betting lines in every sports page in America? I mean, is the going rate for Coke or Weed in the newspaper? Is the going rate for a hooker in the local paper? The majority of Americans gamble, whether its sports, local poker game or casino. To make it illegal under the guise of National Security and Morality is a complete joke.

GOOD POINT

[Joe]

Wildbill,

Thanks for the info.

I did not read that book, but thought that it was a marriage of convenience, ie. Crime and State. I was under the impression that gambling was big before the state made it bigger.

***

Nick,

Kind of makes you wonder if the Feds are going to go after every newspaper in the US that publishes betting lines... lol... better yet would be all the handicappers in newsprint, radio and TV. (Can you picture Hammering Hank on the witness stand?)

[Fletcher]

The newspapers have palusible legality in publishing point spreads as some one could be going to Nevada. I know it sounds stupid but it's like Zig Zag papers being legally sold everywhere in America when 99%+ of them will be used to roll a controlled substance. There is 'plausible legality' for the cig papers because some one could be using them to roll tobacco, a legal use.

[WildBill]

Sports betting started up around here in the 40s or 50s, not sure exactly when, but that was the mob era. They made all their money back East with bookmaking so it was a natural. The sports books started in the 70s I believe, they had to change a regulation to do it. Before that it was stand-alone books with crappy odds because the feds charged a horrendous tax rate.


Trust me this state isn't in the top 12 safest states. Its not even close to that. Luckily crime has never affected me in Vegas, but I won't kid anyone and say its the safest state around. Vegas area crime rates are relatively bad, Reno area isn't much better. The rest of the state is like 50,000 people in total.

[zerocage]

All great posts. The government is suppose to be FOR THE PEOPLE. Everyone I talk to knows next to nothing about what our government is doing. The things that are happening are not on the regular news! Its fascism. I'm sorry I'm not a senator and I can get money to vote a certain way! A legal bribe! yay for the USA1

[Bucsfan67]

damn, i was just ranting about a stupid thought i had, and this turned out to be an interesting thread...

some very good points brought up by you guys, and some info i wasnt aware of....

thanks..

[Whoson1st]

Originally Posted by WildBill

Sports betting started up around here in the 40s or 50s, not sure exactly when, but that was the mob era. They made all their money back East with bookmaking so it was a natural. The sports books started in the 70s I believe, they had to change a regulation to do it. Before that it was stand-alone books with crappy odds because the feds charged a horrendous tax rate.


Trust me this state isn't in the top 12 safest states. Its not even close to that. Luckily crime has never affected me in Vegas, but I won't kid anyone and say its the safest state around. Vegas area crime rates are relatively bad, Reno area isn't much better. The rest of the state is like 50,000 people in total.

Nevada is not one of the top 12 safest States? (What do you think is the safest state in the nation--Utah, maybe) I don't know about Nevada, but I don't suppose it leads the nation in illegal prostitution or illegal gambling charges.

[zerocage]

Nowhere is safe

[WildBill]

This is embarassing, but read the headline:

Most Dangerous/Safest State 2006 Press Release

[Bucsfan67]

odd to see New Mexico and Arizona as most dangerous.....doesnt seem right

especially Arizona as such a retiree state....i wouldnt have expected that

[Joe]

Funny that the Northeast and Midwest are the safest regions. The best Southern State ranks in the 30's.

[WildBill]

For many years Albuquerque and Phoenix were two of the most dangerous cities around. Some cop claimed that was due to being relatively close to the border (steal cars then drive th