Sports Betting and Camaraderie
Legalizing sports betting is not the only way to curb the scourge of gambling, but it is also a good way to boost sports camaraderie and make a society safer. The NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, and others lobbied for legal sports betting, and in January 2018, the NBA and MLB released “Model Legislation” in support of legal sports betting. But how do we get there? First, we need to make a policy decision.
Legalization of sports betting requires a policy choice
While the N.F.L. and NBA have urged Congress to pass federal legislation to legalize sports betting, this effort has failed. Utah Senator Orrin G. Hatch, one of the original authors of the law struck down on Monday, plans to introduce federal legislation to regulate sports betting. But the issue of legalization is not as straightforward as one might think. The Court recognized good policy arguments for both sides, and the case was decided to require a dual-track approach.
While the NFL, MLB, and NCAA have all backed legalizing sports betting, the NCAA is not on board. The NCAA is concerned about potential integrity issues with unpaid student-athletes. They may be more susceptible to point shaving scandals and bribery, and must develop a regulatory framework to protect its players and ensure compliance with state laws. In addition, the NCAA may face lawsuits from Native American tribes, which generate over $30 billion in casino revenues each year.
It promotes camaraderie
Many sports fanatics believe that sports betting fosters camaraderie. However, it may actually harm camaraderie for some. As a result, some fans view other fans as disloyal because of their betting behavior. In this study, we provide evidence to support this theory. We also present a number of ways in which sports betting promotes camaraderie. We present the findings of an experiment to examine whether sports betting can foster camaraderie among sports fanatics.