Legalize Sports Betting
by: Jim Kruger
Cantor Gaming announced the release of an application that will allow any client in the state of Nevada to wager on their entire sports betting lines through Wi-Fi on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smart phones. This is a massive improvement from the days when some Nevada sportsbooks had phone accounts. While the phone accounts were nice, so many times after placing your bet while waiting for confirmation, you would be told "that line has changed". Or, you would be put on eternal hold and after a few minutes just hang up. The system was loaded with frustration.
Stations Casinos a number of years ago offered an "Intranet sports betting system" called the Sports Connection. You opened an account at one of their books, deposited some money, and received a CD which you downloaded on your PC or laptop. The downside with the Stations' system was your computer could only be on their Intranet and not on the Internet at the same time. I immediately eliminated that problem by using a dedicated laptop just for Sports Connection. It had a $500 wager limit and $1200 daily maximum but those have been lifted. You had to live in the Las Vegas area as compared to Cantor's state-wide capabilities.
While the news of Cantor's technology is great for Nevada sports betting residents, it also should have fantastic implications if legalized sports betting ever happens in additional states besides Nevada. New Jersey has taken the lead in signing into state law the right for sports gambling within their state, excluding any New Jersey team or event. The possibility of being able to put some money down on a sporting even is spreading as California has a bill pending approval in their state legislation that would legalize sports betting.
If the Cantor Gaming Wi-Fi application was allowed in states that legalize sports betting, patrons would not have to travel to a sports book within a casino or a sports betting parlor to place a wager. Cantor's app has technology that identifies the location of its user and restricts usage to only within the state. Users are required to have opened an account with a sports book and have placed a deposit with what you can bet with.
Naturally, all major league sports leagues and the NCAA have filed suit against the state of New Jersey this past week stating sports betting would threaten the "character and integrity" of sporting events. Has the rampant betting on the Olympics in London and offshore sports books threatened the "character and integrity" of Usain Bolt's gold medals or the USA women's team winning the gold in water polo? Rumor has it there was some heavy line movement favoring Russia in the team synchronized swimming event after a report NBA Commissioner David Stern was spotted in a betting shop near the London Eye putting 50 pence on the Russians. The rumor was fueled by Stern's known affection for Ferris wheels. Character and integrity? Gimme a break.
If pro sports is so concerned about "character and integrity", how is tanking games allowed so easily such as with Golden State this past season? How come the "steroid era" lasted so long in baseball? Why do people against legalized sports gambling in the USA fail to acknowledge that betting on sports has gone on through local bookies since the first Thanksgiving when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians had a wrestling match to determine who got the drumstick.
With some states in terrible economical condition, why does the US federal government not realize that legalized sports betting would flood governmental coffers with money that is currently going to leg-breaking bookies and other countries through the Internet. While it is a small point, many gambling addicts get into financial problems because they can bet on credit through local bookies. At least with legalized sports betting, you have to have cash to place a wager. Yes, Cantor Gaming sports books do accept credit cards in Nevada, but I doubt new states would allow such an action. People bet on sports. They will always bet on sports. Making sports betting legal will not change the "character and integrity" of any sport. It does make it possible for the government to police it and to make money on it. The creation of the BCS had more effect on college football's "character and integrity" than sports betting will ever have.
Good luck, New Jersey. Thanks for standing up to the hypocrisy.
Jim Kruger Past Articles
Legalize Sports Betting
Cantor Gaming announced the release of an application that will allow any client in the state of Nevada to wager on their entire sports betting lines ... read more
The David Stern Boo Fest
The NBA draft once again provided excessive accolades for all parties involved, head-scratching picks, and at least one NBA analyst who was out-of-place. ... read more
Hawaii vs. Louisiana Tech Wednesday Game
I watched in person Hawaii play against UNLV a couple of Saturdays ago. Hawaii's QB, Joe Alexander, is a big guy who throws a ton of short passes over ... read more
Picking Winners in College Football
Before any sports season starts that I am going to be betting on, I try to find as many angles as I can from any and all sources that I believe can give ... read more
2008-09 NBA Season Win Bets
2008-09 Season Win NBA BetsLiving in Las Vegas for many years and being a season ticket holder for UNLV basketball and football and thus a long-time observer ... read more
Jim Kruger Past Picks
NBA Basketball
Portland Trailblazers @ New Orleans Hornets Wednesday February 13, 2013 8:05 pm
Take Portland-New Orleans OVERPortland continues to have defensive problems. The Blazers have allowed an average of 112.5 points on 53.6 percent shooting - including 43.8 percent from 3-point range - during their skid. The Blazers also allow an NBA-worst 45.7 points in the paint ... read more
NBA Basketball
Utah Jazz @ Sacramento Kings Saturday February 9, 2013 10:05 pm
Sacramento has not played at home for two weeks. They did have four days off from their last game, an overtime loss in Utah which saw the King’s DeMarcus Cousins get ejected before playing 20 minutes. In two other games versus the Jazz this season, the Kings lost ... read more
NBA Basketball
Charlotte Bobcats @ Philadelphia 76ers Saturday February 9, 2013 8:05 pm
Take the Charlotte Bobcats at Philadelphia Seventysixers to go UNDER the Total The Philadelphia offense has taken a huge dive without the services of Thaddeus Young and Jason Richardson. Their offensive efficiency has fallen all the way to #28, one slot above the next-to-worst ... read more
NBA Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics Thursday February 7, 2013 8:05 pm
TOTALS #501 LA Lakers-Boston UNDER There are some good match ups that favor the UNDER tonight. The Lakers’ two most common plays are a spot-up jumper, 21.5% of their shots, and post-up plays, 13.3%. Boston ranks third in the league in defending spot-up jumpers on a points-per-possession ... read more
NBA Basketball
Boston Celtics @ Toronto Raptors Wednesday February 6, 2013 7:05 pm
Take Toronto over BostonIt might be surprising to see theRaptors favored. But, Toronto has been showing signs of improvement for the past several weeks, especially at home. They probably will have Andrea Bargnani back tonight, but that is not why I am playing the Raptors. While Boston ... read more
NBA Basketball
Los Angeles Clippers @ Orlando Magic Wednesday February 6, 2013 7:05 pm
Take LA Clippers - Orlando Magic UNDER Orlando will be missing two of their top offensive weapons tonight, Arron Afflalo and J.J. Redick, due to injuries. Point guard Jameer Nelson is a game-time decision. They lost Glen Davis on January 30th and he will miss an extended ... read more
NFL Football
Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers Sunday February 3, 2013 6:30 pm
Take #102 San Francisco -3.5 over Baltimore Everybody has an opinion on the Super Bowl as it is the most analyzed, most discussed game in any sport in the U.S. every year. Everybody knows everything there is to know about both teams. Every angle, from the smallest to ... read more
NBA Basketball
Utah Jazz @ Portland Trailblazers Saturday February 2, 2013 10:05 pm
Take Utah-Portland UNDER 192 These teams met last night in Utah with the Jazz winning, 86-77. This sets up a classic divisional rematch with zero rest for both teams that is a 65.2% UNDER over the past 10 seasons when the home team is favored. A nice 5-year trend where ... read more
NBA Basketball
Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks Saturday February 2, 2013 7:05 pm
Take Atlanta over Chicago Revenge has its moments in the NBA. This should be one of those moments. In their last match on January 14th, Atlanta suffered one of the worst defeats you could imagine, 97-58. Chicago held the Hawks to 5 points in the second quarter ... read more
NFL Football
San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons Sunday January 20, 2013 3:00 pm
Take San Francisco over AtlantaThis line has ticked up to -4.5 at 5Dimes.com and a few books in Vegas. I'll have a normal write-up later but a couple of key items are San Francisco has an extra day of rest and prep time over Atlanta and the game does not start in Atlanta until ... read more
