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wowser American judges kill off Delaware sports betting

So Delaware had a great idea to bring in legalised sports betting. After all, if Vegas is doing it, and other states like Oregon have it via a 'sports lottery', then why not Delaware? Particularly when the state is struggling with the recession like the rest of the world.

Well, the state government approved it, then the nosey sports leagues ganged up on them and got it shut down. It defies all logic. Legalised and licensed gambling enables sporting authorities to have a money trail, so they can detect any attempted corruption and fraud. If you leave it to the illegal bookies in bars and on street corners, the ones who they will never be able to get rid of, then there is no means of detection. It's all underground and grubby. Legalising one or two state-licensed venues, which would have been taxed enough to keep the margins no more attractive than the outlaws in the Caribbean or on the street corner, and you have an audit trail. It's not as if these firms are going to let players on for unlimited amounts - go to the extent of max bet $1000 or something to keep check of the potential social issues (which are always overstated but in a conservative nation like the US you have to start somewhere - casinos and slots which never stop are far more dangerous and provide 95%+ of problem gamblers) and appease the sports bodies who are paranoid of gambling affecting their games.

Do they really think professional players who get millions to sit on the bench all season will be tempted by the small amounts a gambler could get on with a government-licensed firm? Better to bring them into the spotlight and monitor it instead of let them go unchecked betting with underground bookies, the ones prepared to send the boys around if you don't pay up or do what you're told, or the 'outlaws' in the Caribbean. Who was behind Hansie Cronje, Tim Donaghy, the Chicago Blacksox, the lights being shut down at West Ham, Salim Malik, etc etc? Everyone of them was with unlicensed bookies. Licensed bookies have too much at stake to get involved - their own money and their licence.

Judges kill Delaware sportsbetting - single-game wagering denied

So instead the judges let them bet minimum three-game parlays or trebles to the rest of the world. Wow, that's about as exciting as watching paint dry. Still, it's Americans we are talking about here - they thought George Bush machs I and II was a good idea....

Comments

  1. That's a bit harsh on Americans.

    Perfectly true, just a bit harsh....

    ReplyDelete
  2. hope some one challenges again
    cheers
    easwaran
    India

    ReplyDelete

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