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Changes in Attitudes: The only long-term hope for sports gambling in America
To be honest, the title of this article should be "changes in public perception"
but that's not as catchy. The recent arrest by Federal Authorities of a number
of principals in the BetOnSports family of books underscores the longterm
problem with sports gambling in America. The problem isn't so much that the
Federales are "out to get" sportsbook owners and associates; the real problem is
that the general public has an negative, outdated and inaccurate view of the
entire sports gambling nexus. The only longterm hope for sports gambling in
this country is a change in that perception.
Here's something you can bank on--if the Senate ever does pass a bill against
online gambling I can almost guarantee you that poker will be exempted in some
way. There's a variety of reasons that this will be the case, not the least of
which is simple politics--poker is hugely popular in the United States. A
recent survey indicated that 20% of all Americans play poker in some form or
another at least once a month. That's 60 million potential voters, and that's a
number that no one in Congress wants to mess with.
More significantly, poker has a very positive image with the American public.
You can't turn on the TV without seeing poker. Take a look at the magazine rack
at any Barnes and Noble store and you'll see at least a half dozen titles
devoted to poker coverage. Head to the relevant book section and you'll see
shelf after shelf of poker theory books. The top professional poker players
have become mainstream celebrities, and even the non poker playing public views
the game as a very benign, skill based endeavor.
Contrast this with the mainstream media portrayal of sports bettors and
bookmakers. Bettors are viewed as degenerates, bookmakers as crooks--even pawns
of organized crime. It doesn't matter that there's as much skill and intelect
involved in successful sports wagering than in poker, nor does it matter that
virtually every Las Vegas casino is now run by a large publicly traded
corporation (as are many of the top offshore stores). Those in my line of work
who handicap sporting events are viewed as sleazy, "boiler room" type
telemarketers willing to say or do anything to get a buck out of the
"degenerates" who bet on sports.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media isn't as much to blame for this
negative--and inaccurate--portrayal as is the sports gambling industry itself.
Poker has been masterful at packaging and promoting itself to become attractive
to the mainstream American audience, but sports gambling has done nothing to
better its lot. Not only is there a complete absence of a unified vision of
sports gambling being presented to the American public, there's really nothing
at all being done by the sports betting industry within the US media. In the
current legal/political environment, this is somewhat understandable--if you're
operating a successful and profitable business as it is, why take the chance
that a higher profile position might receive negative attention from Federal
authorities? Still, if the status of sports betting is ever to improve in this
country some positive changes must be made.
In a perfect world, the Las Vegas sportsbooks would take the lead here since
sports betting is very much legal in Nevada. Of course for years Nevada books
have either dismissed offshore bookmakers or actually worked against them. This
is a very shortsighted attitude, and the experience of poker could illustrate
what might be--everyone with an Internet connection can now play poker online,
and there's plenty of "live" poker to be found nationwide as well. Despite so
many alternatives in the marketplace, Nevada poker rooms are experiencing
booming business. The reason for this is simple: despite the widespread
availability of poker nationwide, Nevada--and particularly Las Vegas--is seen as
the "big leagues". Las Vegas has so many non-gambling amenities to offer that
even for the devoted online or "local" casino player it remains an almost
mythical destination. This won't be changing anytime soon, and Nevada sports
books should note well the increase in poker room traffic during the current
"boom".
Basically, the status of sports betting the US is in such sorry shape that all
the relevant players within the industry need to work together to improve it.
Even if they don't do so in a formal, coordinated manner they need to at least
be on the same page. The status quo--with a small number of sanctimonious
busybodies answering to the religious right trying to pass legislation to shape
an industry that most elected officials and the general public really don't
understand--is unacceptable. The poker experiences demonstrates that a dramatic
change in public perception is possible in a very short time.
Look for more articles in the coming weeks where I'll articulate where sports
betting in America needs to go and how the books, handicappers and players can
work together to get it there. Hoping that the Federal government will wake up
to the reality of the sports betting world or even just continue to "look the
other way" is a foolish and counterproductive attitude. Sports gambling must be
packaged and sold to the American public much in the same way that poker
packaged and sold itself. Only then will any sort any change in the legal and
political landscape become possible.
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