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Tonight (Thursday February 3, 2011), Fox Business correspondent, John Stossel, discusses how politicians have their tentacles (or as our own Jenny Woo might say – testicles) deep into the world of sports in ways you might not realize.
Stossel is quoted:
Like many of you, I’ve made a friendly bet on the Super Bowl--100 bucks on Green Bay. Yet sports betting is illegal in every state but Nevada and Montana (big restrictions in Montana). I’m just betting with a friend, and fortunately, such social bets are legal in most states. Most, but not all.
Why the restrictions? Since betters bet with other consenting adults, who do we hurt? If I win, I'll damage my friend's bank account. So what? Other than that, I'm not hurting anybody.
But politicians think they know better than me. That's why gambling and sports betting remain illegal in most of the United States. Of course, that doesn't mean people don't gamble. All it means is betting operations are driven underground, or overseas.
As far as the addiction argument goes, Stossel adds: “But people also get hooked on alcohol, smoking, fatty foods, sex, the stock market--the list goes on.”
His show will air at 9 pm ET on Fox Business News (check your local listings).
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
