Super Bowl gambling? You bet!
Law enforcement officials not looking to bust pools
By Charlie Mathews
Herald Times Reporter
MANITOWOC — Everything is better when you have a bet down. That's the slogan of the gambling Web site www.playersonly.com.
But you don't have to fire up your computer to put some cash or plastic on Sunday's Super Bowl game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
There's plenty of action going on in Lakeshore area taverns and workplaces.
Most of the time it's people putting some of their hard-earned moola into games where there are 100 "squares," with two grids of numbers, 0 through 9. At the end of each quarter, the last numbers on points scored by each team determines the winning gambler.
At one local bar, there's a Super Bowl pool where each square costs $200, making a $20,000 total pot.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. I think it's harmless fun," said Lisa Schaus of Manitowoc. She was a winner, of $37.50, in the Tavern League of Wisconsin "Football Mania" raffle game this past season.
It is a legal way for the Tavern League to raise funds for its foundation, supporting different charities.
Schaus said she's not in a Super Bowl pool Sunday. Unless someone is risking their rent money or home mortgage, she's not going to criticize players. "It's all a matter of self-control," she said.
The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling estimates illegal gambling topped $4 billion for last year's Super Bowl.
That's about $12 for every man, woman and child in the United States, or $1 million in Manitowoc County.
Not a priority
Local law enforcement authorities say cracking down on Super Bowl gambling is a low priority.
"We don't actively pursue Super Bowl pools. We have more important things to do," said Manitowoc County Sheriff Ken Peterson.
Peterson believes Super Bowl pools are, in general, a "victimless" crime.
He knows the state's Division of Criminal Investigation did raid the Legacy Supper Club in Grand Chute last February and seized more than $100,000 in cash. Most of it was linked to a Super Bowl pool where squares were $1,000 each.
Peterson wondered whether DCI officials got involved because they were concerned the state wouldn't get its tax cut from the winnings.
Manitowoc Police Chief Perry Kingsbury also takes a hands-off approach.
"Most of the operations that go on are pretty much between friends with 100 percent payouts. They know what they're getting into," he said.
Bill Miller of Two Rivers knows his motivation for buying a $10 square at work for Super Bowl XL.
"It's purely entertainment," said Miller, who won $1,200 in the Tavern League's fall raffle game that he said was "sheer luck."
"It gives me a reason to watch the game with more interest than if I didn't have a square," Miller said.
Attempts to talk with local tavern owners about their pools predictably drew sparse comments.
After all, as Two Rivers Police Chief Joe Collins said, "There is no minimum amount allowed for a pool ... gambling is against the law in many circumstances."
Tippy Tomcheck, owner of Tippy's Bar & Grill, wouldn't talk about whether his establishment has any Super Bowl pools.
"Some are getting rather large. There's always that fear somebody will walk off with the money," he said. "That's why I understand they've busted them in a few cities. You start wondering if the money will be there when it comes to paying out."
Service to patrons
Bob Nelson owned the Fat Seagull restaurant and tavern in downtown Manitowoc for nearly 20 years before selling the business last year.
"My attitude has always been as long as there's a payout of 100 percent, it is a service to the people who want to get in on them," Nelson said.
He said he ran pools — never more than $50 a square — because it helped draw in customers.
Law enforcement officials not looking to bust pools
By Charlie Mathews
Herald Times Reporter
MANITOWOC — Everything is better when you have a bet down. That's the slogan of the gambling Web site www.playersonly.com.
But you don't have to fire up your computer to put some cash or plastic on Sunday's Super Bowl game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
There's plenty of action going on in Lakeshore area taverns and workplaces.
Most of the time it's people putting some of their hard-earned moola into games where there are 100 "squares," with two grids of numbers, 0 through 9. At the end of each quarter, the last numbers on points scored by each team determines the winning gambler.
At one local bar, there's a Super Bowl pool where each square costs $200, making a $20,000 total pot.
"I don't see anything wrong with it. I think it's harmless fun," said Lisa Schaus of Manitowoc. She was a winner, of $37.50, in the Tavern League of Wisconsin "Football Mania" raffle game this past season.
It is a legal way for the Tavern League to raise funds for its foundation, supporting different charities.
Schaus said she's not in a Super Bowl pool Sunday. Unless someone is risking their rent money or home mortgage, she's not going to criticize players. "It's all a matter of self-control," she said.
The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling estimates illegal gambling topped $4 billion for last year's Super Bowl.
That's about $12 for every man, woman and child in the United States, or $1 million in Manitowoc County.
Not a priority
Local law enforcement authorities say cracking down on Super Bowl gambling is a low priority.
"We don't actively pursue Super Bowl pools. We have more important things to do," said Manitowoc County Sheriff Ken Peterson.
Peterson believes Super Bowl pools are, in general, a "victimless" crime.
He knows the state's Division of Criminal Investigation did raid the Legacy Supper Club in Grand Chute last February and seized more than $100,000 in cash. Most of it was linked to a Super Bowl pool where squares were $1,000 each.
Peterson wondered whether DCI officials got involved because they were concerned the state wouldn't get its tax cut from the winnings.
Manitowoc Police Chief Perry Kingsbury also takes a hands-off approach.
"Most of the operations that go on are pretty much between friends with 100 percent payouts. They know what they're getting into," he said.
Bill Miller of Two Rivers knows his motivation for buying a $10 square at work for Super Bowl XL.
"It's purely entertainment," said Miller, who won $1,200 in the Tavern League's fall raffle game that he said was "sheer luck."
"It gives me a reason to watch the game with more interest than if I didn't have a square," Miller said.
Attempts to talk with local tavern owners about their pools predictably drew sparse comments.
After all, as Two Rivers Police Chief Joe Collins said, "There is no minimum amount allowed for a pool ... gambling is against the law in many circumstances."
Tippy Tomcheck, owner of Tippy's Bar & Grill, wouldn't talk about whether his establishment has any Super Bowl pools.
"Some are getting rather large. There's always that fear somebody will walk off with the money," he said. "That's why I understand they've busted them in a few cities. You start wondering if the money will be there when it comes to paying out."
Service to patrons
Bob Nelson owned the Fat Seagull restaurant and tavern in downtown Manitowoc for nearly 20 years before selling the business last year.
"My attitude has always been as long as there's a payout of 100 percent, it is a service to the people who want to get in on them," Nelson said.
He said he ran pools — never more than $50 a square — because it helped draw in customers.
