For years and years betting was the dark and seedy underworld.
It was viewed as bad and inherently addictive with horrible consequences for its participants.
But, much like marijuana or (once upon a time) alcohol, laws changed and now it’s all out in the open (for the most part, marijuana still has a lot of complications).
Legalized gambling has been a boon for many states, the media, gamblers and sports leagues.
But it isn’t all good. The negatives are there, too. More headline-grabbing scandals with athletes being linked to or caught betting. A rise in gambling addictions. Constant commercials and tie-ins at stadiums and on broadcasts.
Sports betting is now in-your-face whether you want it to be or not.
Even I grapple with this, as a bettor.
I enjoy placing my wagers and following the action, but I also see the issues and drawbacks. I understand a lot of the hand-wringing from the anti-gambling crowd.
Overall though, I do think it’s a good thing.
Like many other vices, I think legalizing it also helps legitimize the avenues for people who need help. Taking it to online, approved betting apps has a lot of wager restrictions, in many cases preventing people from betting money they don’t have.
Plus, as we saw with the Shoehi Ohtani scandal, the investigations can be done quickly and efficiently because with modern technology tracking the bets to someone’s IP address, phone and email leaves digital footprints for investigators. Those clues all pointed to what the conclusion was: that his interpreter stole his money and gambled it without his knowledge.
Yes, there will be more Jontay Porters, Jameson Williamses and others like them. But I think as we get further along in normalizing gambling, the talking points will be clearer and there will be a wider spread knowledge about wagering and its pitfalls.
If you want to try gambling, start small. Bet 50 cents at a time. Bet $1. Make sure you understand what you’re betting. Don’t chase big payouts. Hitting something with -110 odds can feel just as good as hitting something that’s +100.
And remember, the books push same-game parlays because that’s where they make their money. Those are often designed to push bettors into riskier bets to chase big payouts that are unlikely to win. If you like two or three props, bet them separately.
Anyway, that’s my take. Sound off on yours in the comments. And remember: gamble responsibly.