Vegas may not be the Holy Grail of sports betting, but it is far and away the best option for American gamblers, especially for recreational gamblers, which is what the vast majority of people on this board are. There are about 70 sports books in Vegas and I don't think any one of them is going to give a crap if you win $300 to $1,000 a week betting sports (especially when you'll also be suffering the losing weeks every gambler experiences).

I'm not a pro, never will be a pro, and rarely post on this forum anymore after making a go of serious online gambling for about a year a few years ago. But I do enjoy gambling and have done it recreationally on and off for about 30 years (mostly in Vegas, but lately it's been blackjack and poker in Tunica, Mississippi). I'm not good enough (and don't have the time) to make it as a pro sports bettor, but when I retire in 15 years I'll give serious consideration to moving to Las Vegas just so I can have fun. As long as I don't bet more than $500 on a few games every week, I don't expect to have any issues with any sports book no matter how much I win. Chances are, I will give more than I take.

When you add up all the positives and negatives, online gambling in the U.S. is just a major pain in the ass, which was obviously the point vyomguy was making when he started this thread. If the U.S. government ever legalized and regulated online gambling in this country, you can bet the major Vegas casinos would instantly become key players in the marketplace, and I would instantly embrace them. But that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

Short of that, the only way to enjoy relatively risk-free and convenient recreational sports gambling in the U.S. is by doing it the state of Nevada. Of course, I'm only speaking for myself. I know there are U.S. players here who have refined their online gambling procedures down to science and have virtually no issues with risk or hassles, but I can't imagine ever joining their ranks.

If I see you in Vegas in 2025, I'll put up a sawbuck for some pie-in-the-sky parlay we put together over a round of beer and laughs. And if we somehow win the bet, we can count on collecting our cash from the Hilton or the Bellagio.