Research Paper on Legalized Sports Gambling

Introduction

Sports betting is a form of gambling that involves placing a bet on the result of a particular sporting event. The major goal of sports betting is to win extra money. With the exclusion of spread betting, 'draw no bet' bets and a few other examples, a wager always has two possible outcomes. Sports betting has both positive and negative impacts on the people involved. The United States Supreme Court lately reversed a 26 year old ban on sports gambling, enabling every state to make their own determination regarding whether to allow bets to be placed on certain sports like hockey, basketball among others. Previously, sports gambling had been banned countrywide, safe for four states of Oregon, Montana, Nevada, and Delaware. Most people in America had supported the legalization of sports gambling. The proponents of this debate believe that legalizing sports betting has more benefits that demerit. They are of the opinion that legalization of sports betting would highly discourage illegal betting and related organized crimes, safeguard gamblers from being conned by illegal bookies and produce tax revenue to the state and reduce match fixing (Jost). Those of the opposing view, on the other hand, believe that legalization of sports betting will impact the sports industry in a hugely negative way. They believe that legalization would do little to lessen the appeal of illegal betting and would be facilitate betting addiction and crime, slightly increase state revenue and do little in minimizing corrupt matches.

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Proponents

The proponents of this debate believe that betting should be legalized as it is already s thriving industry. The sports betting has flourished irrespective of its legality. Illegal sports gambling is a billion-dollar industry estimated as high as $150 billion. Those taking part in the betting can do so easily online or via domestic office pools or offshore books. The Supreme Court decision will now encourage more States to consider passing laws to legalize sports gambling, hence allowing people to continue gambling but in a controlled and fairer environment (Jost). This legalization will also caution gamblers from handling questionable bookies. Furthermore, sport betting addicts will now have fewer stigmas, making it easier for them to seek support and help.

Another major argument put across by the proponents of this debate is that sports gambling is ideal for the economy. The legalization of sports gambling will create high tax revenues for the states. Most notably, it will create jobs for the people since this industry employs more people to oversee its running. It is projected that between 125,000 to 150,000 jobs will be created for the American citizens. Researchers have projected that a legalized, controlled sport gambling is likely to bring in a sum of $6 billion in revenue annually by 2023. This is a huge amount of revenue compared to any other industry in the United States. Besides, it has the potential of bringing large sums of money into America and have it invested there hence improving the economy (Mills). The Las Vegas Convention and visitors Authority approximated that the Super Bowl weekend of 2007 generated $109.5 million in non-betting economic effect and attracted more than 287,000 visitors. The U.S Gaming Association projected that legal sports betting assists in bringing more than 30 million tourists to the state of Nevada yearly and offers employment for thousands of people. Besides, they argue that legalized sports betting has not intensified the sports corruption since almost all sports bribery, match-fixing, as well as point-shaving scandals, have been linked with illegal gambling. Presently, most of the gambling occur online. It is highly likely that legalization of sports gambling will prompt American tech and telecommunication firms to take over the global market.

The question of whether legalization of sports betting is going to corrupt major leagues in the sporting industry has been answered. The proponents of this debate believe that legalizing sports gambling makes it difficult to fix matches. This is because upon legalization, sports betting will be carefully monitored and the occurrence of any unusual activity will be easily noticed. Fixing of matches is easier in a un-monitored environment where money is exchanged under the radar. The government input in sports betting will be high and extensive due to the huge revenue that this sports betting will bring to the state (Mills). This will also make monitoring of unethical behaviors in sports be top-notch. The government would not seat and watch as some few people ruin the sports and sports betting industry which will be creating jobs to the United States citizen. Hence, the common belief that legalizing sports gambling is totally wrong.

Legalization of sports betting will make viewership become more sensational. The events will become extra sensational from a viewing stance. More entertainment joints and bars will influence this excitement to entice fans and fill their seats. This will hence lead to increased sales and profit margin to their businesses. Whereas not many establishments will be in a position to take wagers, they can play host to viewing parties for those who will be placing bets, creating a sensational environment.

The legalization of sports betting will open the door for major tech firms across the globe. It will spark the creation of thousands of new websites, new startups, and new apps for betting. There will be several state-specific apps and websites all committed to placing wagers, monitoring the winnings, and cashing in on wins.

Lastly, the legalization of sports betting will leads to protection of sports integrity. Presently, there exists a thin line between betting and sports, but if betting would be legal the integrity of the sports would be highly safeguarded (Mantel). There would be no worries regarding whether people are betting on a particular game. The assumption that each match and every game was a subject of betting would not occur. The issue of match-fixing would not be heard as matches would legally be subject to wagering depending on the choice of the gambler.

Argument Against

Those opposed to this debate believe that sports betting is harmful to the society and that will do more harm than good to the people.

The opposing side is of the opinion that the majority of people who are for legalization of sports betting claims that it's more of skills as opposed to luck. They believe that much like securities trading, it is all about identifying opportunities and carefully acting on them. Nevertheless, this assertion is wrong (Jost). The human factor has a large impact on sports which cannot be ruled out. Often the unexpected occurs, which can affect everybody from the team ownership down to the players. Even in instances where skills can enhance chances of winning, people betting on sports might not always possess an in-depth understanding of the statistics needed to win. Mostly, these sports betting enthusiast place bets based on a hunch rather than knowledge. Sports betting is not all about skills like stock trading, it's gaming, and in gaming, the winner is always the house.

Another key demerit of the legalization of sports betting is the emergence of illegal betting. Whereas the proponents of this debate have argued that legalizing sports betting will make illegal betting disappear, this is not necessarily the truth. The major reason why people engage in gambling is not lack of option but availability, and most significantly the princely line of credit being offered by bookies. Gamblers do not require to make a deposit to bet on bookies, which makes it easier for them to gamble with money they do not have (Mills). This is also the key reason why gamblers find themselves in troubling debts situations. Furthermore, these bookies offer better wagering rates and margins to their clients since they are not paying taxes. Hence, legalization of sports betting would not entirely eliminate illegal wagering as well as the accompanying problems. For example, increased chances to wagers on sports may increase the number of wagers, yet services for assisting betting addicts will most probably not increase in parallel.

Conclusion

Sports betting has both the negative and positive effects on the gamblers and the society in general. The proponents of this debate believe that legalizing sports betting has more benefits that demerit. They are of the opinion that legalization of sports betting would highly discourage illegal betting and related organized crimes, safeguard gamblers from being conned by illegal bookies and produce tax revenue to the state and reduce match fixing. Those of the opposing view, on the other hand, believe that legalization of sports betting will impact the sports industry in a huge negative way (Mantel). They believe that legalization would do little to lessen the appeal of illegal betting and would be facilitate betting addiction and crime, slightly increase state revenue and do little in minimizing corrupt matches.

Work Cited

Casinos push to legalize sports betting. (2017, June 26). CQ magazine. Retrieved from. http://library.cqpress.com.ccc.idm.oclc.org/

Jost, K. (2012, June 15). Gambling in America. CQ Researcher, 22, 525-548.

Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/Mantel, B. (2016, October 28). Betting on sports. CQ researcher, 26, 889-912.

Retrieved from. http://library.cqpress.com/Mills, Mike. (October 10, 1992). COMMERCE: Sports Gambling Ban Is Cleared. CQ Weekly, 3156. http://library.cqpress.com.ccc.idm.oclc.org/cqweekly/WR102408620.