-
Comment -
A number of years ago the Ontario provincial government here in Canada introduced under their lottery program a new lottery caled Proline which is essentially sports betting but they botched it up for bettors in that one cannot wager on any single event but rather a minimum of 2 or more events must be played. The 2 team event aka 'parlay' only pays even money whereas most parlays return 2.6 to 1. The NBA even got involved when they were considering a franchise for Toronto in that all NBA games would need to be dropped from this new lottery called Proline. The Ontario Gov't agreed to never have NBA games available thereafter and Toronto was then granted an NBA franchise. So even if the government does get involved in sports betting, it may not end up being the best for the bettor and he'll go elsewhere for better odds or menu offering.Comment -
There doesn't need to be much government involvement at all. In Vegas, all the casinos are privately-owned, the government just regulates it through licensing and takes some taxes. I think that model would work across the whole country.
And as for the corruption of the integrity of sport argument...if it was legal, it would be watched much more closely. I'm saying it's much easier, today, when gambling is illegal, for me to approach the PG of a team favored by 14 and tell him to see if he can make sure his team only wins by 10. When it's being regulated, that kind of stuff would be MUCH harder to pull off. So really, that argument is a non-starter.Comment -
The question is the morality of government...should government expand it's taxing authority to encourage/ take more money from what is classified as immoral activity.
It's not Orielly or Stossell that's hypocritical, it's government that's hypocritical. Some gambling is allow and some isn't...a casino can be on an indian reservation but a private company cannot operate one across the street. The state can make revenue from lottery but the bar owner cannot run a numbers game.
We can collect sales tax off alcohol and tobacco as sin taxes but we cannot collect taxes off prositution or gaming because they are sins?
Seriously...those in Washington should all be cleaned out and replaced with Vegas wise guys- it'd all run smoother and more fair.Comment -
I don't quite understand the argument. I believe I am correct when I say a form of gambling is legal in 48 of the 50 states. If anybody wants to gamble, I would say at least 75% of the population lives within 2 hours of some form of gambling.
If the argument is against legalizing sports betting, then anybody who fights it does not understand the current market of sports betting. An analogy to the 18th Amendment is accurate in my opinion. People still bet on sports in the US. They have for decades and will continue to do so for decades more. The difference is, unless the betting takes place at a legal sports book in Nevada, the government makes nothing from the profits that offshore books and local illegal bookies make.
But, we can legalize virtually all other forms of gambling? Why is sports betting so much worse than horse racing?Comment -
If I want to bet on sports, I have many options. I would prefer to do it legally, and wouldn't mind paying a little tax on my winnings.Comment -
I am a big fan of fox news. I am a big fan of bill o'reilly. I am a registered republican.
That being said, Politically I am a right leaning Libertarian. The smaller the government the better. If we as gamblers aren't hurting anyone else then why shouldn't we be able to do as we wish?
If I want to bet on a sporting I should be able to, If I want to have a foursome with 3 black hookers, I should be able to. If I want to do a line of blow and have a foursome with 3 White hookers, then I should be able to. (without being called racist.) If I am footing the bill with post tax money, then I should be able to spend my money on whatever the **** I want to spend it on.
If it hurts my wife, then its MY FAULT. If it hurts my kids then its MY FAULT. I dont need the government to tell me when and where I can spend my money. At some point I have to be PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for my actions. It is my job as a husband to make sure my wife has everything she needs. It is my job as a father to make sure my kids have the same. I am the man of the house and I will be accountable for my household.
If everyone thought like this I think the world actually would be a better place. Just my 2cents. I know most of you libbies will disagree with me. That is your right, and I hope you realize mine.Comment -
I agree that gaming should be legalized in the U.S. On line gaming can easily be regulated, and will bring in tax dollars. All accounts can easily be taxed. Much like the lottery, winnings can be taxed as soon as the money is won. Any winnings over $499.00 could be immediately taxed, and monies taken out for the Federal, and State governments. If a player wins a large wager, but loses overall in a certain tax year, he/she can simply write off the losings until his/her profit is zero, and recover the monies taken out for taxes.
To protect the U.S. gaming interests, the government can outlaw any and all gaming sites that are not owned and operated in the U.S. They can shut these sites down in a matter of days, if they chose to. People are going to gamble. Why not tax those people?
The arugment that by doing this, you will create more compulsive gamblers does not hold water. The fact is that the majority of people who live in this country are people who are easily controlled, cannot control themselves, and are basically helpless. If you add up all the various types of addicts in this country, be they gamblers, drinkers, drug users, compulsive spenders, and other types of addicts, the numbers would shock you. The number of illierates, uneducated, and under educated people in this country just keeps growing. Those people are easily controled by the few who have the ability to do so. People do not have the ability to rid themselves of their additions, because they are weak and seek excuses for their actions. If you have a problem, seek help. Do not try to kill an idea that is financially sound just because you are a weak person and may fall victim and become a compulsive. Blingish has it right. It is about time that people in this nation start taking responsibility for their actions. Too many people in this nation make a living coming up with excuses for their actions.Comment -
It doesn't even need to be officially legalized as much as just getting rid of the bank restrictions that were put on in 2006 as well as of course enforcing taxation laws.Comment -
The problem with that is this. The government would be incapable of controling the overseas wagering establishments. It would not be cost effective. It would be much easier to simply outlaw them, do away with them, and control gaming in this country. The entire point of the argument is to use gaming as a means of collecting tax revinues. It is much easier to do that by controling an industry in this country, than in one outside of our borders.
What people have to realize is that no one holds a gun to your head. No one forces another person to gamble. It is an individual choice. I have neve heard of anyone being "forced" to gamble. The "holier than thou" crowd seems to totally overlook this. The argument that people cannot control themselves, and would become compulsive gamblers does not hold water. If that were the case, drinking, smoking, and any type of gaming would be outlawed. I live within 35 miles of 5 major casinos and two off track horse racing facilities. It is very easy for me to gamble anytime I want. I know hundreds of people in my neighborhood, and Ihave yet to find one that has a serious gambling problem.Comment -
Bill gambled and lost his ass on the stock market. Freakin hypocrite...Comment -
yeah probably a pipe dreamComment -
The funniest thing about this is I'd be willing bet that O'reilly is in favor of the Lottery. If the Lottery was a Sportsbook there is no doubt in my mind that SBR would give them a D rating at best. The only thing they would have going for them is they would actually payout. The Lottery keeps .50 cents for every dollar you spend on average. I know they do a lot of "good" things and what not but can you imagine if a Sportsbook had -200 lines for a Point Spread or an Over/Under? Nobody would play there. Fortunately for the Lottery 99% of the general public has absolutely no concept of Odds or percentages. They only hear things like "the lottery is up to $200 million!". They hear that and they want to buy a ticket. If they only knew that if the Lottery had a raffle for $100 and they collected 100 $1 tickets and the 1 and only winner got $50 they might understand it better. Or maybe not. I'm ranting... sorry... it just disturbs me that the Lottery is held up so high when it keeps 50% and yet other more legitimate forms of gambling are illegal.Comment -
It sucks to be Bill. Sometimes he can show his view, but a lot of the time he has to give the view the station says. Must suck to be a tool.Comment
