02-20-2025, 11:06 AM
We should remember though that sports betting was rampant well before it was legalized, to the tune of a ~half a trillion dollar problem. A good chunk (I don't really know how much) of the $121B is simply people moving their bets from their illegal bookies to legal sportsbooks.
At what point does the ubiquity of a vice call for it's legalization? How much tax money (which can go to the launching of other programs to help people) and other side benefits does it take to outweigh the small percentage of people who become addicted? Yes, there are lots of college kids who are betting too much. There are also lots of college kids who are drinking and smoking too much (and spending way too much time on social media). I don't know this to be true, but I think most would agree that the decisions to legalize alcohol and marijuana were good decisions. Time will tell if the same is true for the legalization of sports gambling. It could be catastrophic. But probably not.
p.s. I currently have $10 on Lexie Hull (OK, and Caitlin Clark) on the Indiana Fever to win it all at 9 to 1.
At what point does the ubiquity of a vice call for it's legalization? How much tax money (which can go to the launching of other programs to help people) and other side benefits does it take to outweigh the small percentage of people who become addicted? Yes, there are lots of college kids who are betting too much. There are also lots of college kids who are drinking and smoking too much (and spending way too much time on social media). I don't know this to be true, but I think most would agree that the decisions to legalize alcohol and marijuana were good decisions. Time will tell if the same is true for the legalization of sports gambling. It could be catastrophic. But probably not.
p.s. I currently have $10 on Lexie Hull (OK, and Caitlin Clark) on the Indiana Fever to win it all at 9 to 1.