Internet sports betting has grown to be quite popular all and bettors all over the world are asking “should sports gambling be legalized or not?” The ease and convenience in which one can possibly place bets on any sporting event over the internet, the wide choice of sportsbooks and the excitement and thrill from the game signifies that sports betting has arrived to stay.
The aspect of sports gambling that concerns most gamblers is not surprisingly the legality of it all. Sports gambling activities are considered illegal in most states of the US save a few like Nevada and Montana. Therefore it is imperative to figure out all gambling laws in your state and jurisdiction before placing your bets online in order that you wont be on the wrong side of the law. The gambling laws differ from nation to nation and from state to state.
Track record of illegal betting in the US reveals that there were loads of scandals and money-laundering etc that have led to prohibition and regulating gambling. It is believed that if betting on a teams wins or losses of a particular game is made legal, while all the other bets on outcomes like point spreads etc were banned, would result in the destruction of the illegal bookmakers market and finally cut down the corruption in sports.
Sports betting is really illegal in many regions of the earth but there have always been exceptions. It is difficult to tackle and generalize sports betting laws and the legality of sports betting. Legal articles in the US declare that the 1st law to be followed is definitely the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1994. This law actually stipulates that operation of gambling in whatever form is unlawful except for the few states in America including the state of Nevada.
Sports fans consider sports betting to be a hobby in Europe, which also helps to promote the leagues, games and players. Therefore the Europeans regard sports betting as beneficial to some degree and not criminal or illegal. To put it differently, they support its regulation and restrictions at the same time don’t think or label it as “illegal”.
Whether sports gambling is considered illegal or not, online sports wagering will continue to be one of the most popular ways of placing bets. Sports enthusiasts will not refrain from placing bets through offshore sportsbooks. Laws do sanction malpractices in betting and some legitimate betting websites do exist for the entertainment of people who enjoy the game. Other than this, sports enthusiasts especially basketball, football, baseball fans etc consider sports gambling a terrific way to make a lot of money.
If you are wondering “should sports gambling be legalized?” then you are the same as many avid gamblers who battle against the issues of betting laws etc in the US. It is advisable to note that gambling does have a darker side which is addiction and threatening the integrity of particular sports activities. It is because of such repercussions that opponents of sports betting oppose the legality of sports gambling.