I’ve always loved watching and participating in sports but, after a visit to Las Vegas a few years ago, I became passionate about sports. The teams I’m watching are my teams and, in a way that’s impossible to describe to someone who doesn’t love sports, when my team wins, I feel great!
It’s only natural that I developed and honed my handicapping skills to win money on sports bets. Betting on sports gives the concept of ‘my teams’ completely new significance! Winning doesn’t mean that I merely jump up and shout “Hooray!” these days. No, I turn cartwheels, bounce around the room, and scream “WE WON!” Because betting on sports, and winning significant amounts, is really fun.
Why Sports Betting?
I love to sleep in on Sunday mornings because I work hard during the week and wouldn’t think of getting up any time before noon on a day off…unless I’m betting on a team with the potential of a fantastic payoff. So I’m up early, mixing Mimosas in my favorite bathrobe waiting for the game to begin. I feel like an excited child about to open a very big present! Online betting sites like 10Bet make placing online sports bets easy for me.
On doing some research about sports betting, I learned that almost every state – except Utah – allows some kind of gambling. Now I’m asking why isn’t sports betting available for all?
Sports betting, unlike games of chance, is a big challenge. Sports betting requires real knowledge of a sport, along with all the teams and players. Great sports bettors must analyze a tremendous amount of detail. They’re always probing, comparing, and asking questions about their sport because they’re passionate about it.
Big Business
Lottery tickets are legal, as are scratch tickets at the convenience store, horse betting at the track, or games of blackjack on Mississippi paddleboats! Why shouldn’t the residents of each state decide to make sports betting a legal pastime?
Some interesting statistics about Las Vegas caught my eye. Sports bookmakers took in at least USD3.4 BILLION in 2012 and people wanting to make sports bets are always looking for the best bookmakers.
According to the Wall Street Journal, illegal sports bets in the country represent many times this amount so, I ask, why wouldn’t state governments like the revenues they’d gain by the legalization of sports bets?
Although some argue that sports books don’t want a legal market because doing so would lower their percentage of wagers accepted, perhaps that’s the best reason to legalize sports bets. Legalizing the sports betting market would add to its transparency but wouldn’t lessen the thrills of winning! Until that happens, it’s good to know that online betting sites are there to take my bets.
Sports Integrity
Some people argue that the national leagues of every sport – including the NFL and NBA – say that sports betting will somehow harm the sport. Psychologists say that’s true – athletes may play according to the odds, if they’re aware of them. For example, a coach for the University of Nevada was renowned for whispering the spread bets on the next game…and the team always seemed to play harder when the supposed odds were against them!
Conclusion
Imagine telling enthusiastic people around the world not to place bets during the World Cup? There’s so much energy and delicious competition and people around the world are hoping — and betting — for their teams to win!
Photo: James Boyes
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