Online Gambling Rights

I spare no shame in proclaiming I am a flag waving proud American.  Heck I even know one guy who in debates tries to discredit me as a jingoist. But in an era in which you would think we’d have a lot more pressing issues, two very high profile gambling legal news events have me wondering if we Americans will ever stop the insanity when it comes to our duplicity involving gambling.

It looks like my old stomping grounds of south Jersey is ready to become the center of gambling self-righteousness as we find out that Phoenix Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet led an, oh no—hide the women a children, a gambling ring.

Yes it’s true that domestic sports gambling is illegal outside of Vegas. I don’t believe we can pick and choose which laws we obey based on whether we agree with them. But unless further details indicate these players and coaches involved bet on NHL games it’s a big non-story and a waste of time and resources.

Just 10 miles down the road from where all hell broke loose is Camden, NJ a city that two major publications dubbed “America’s Worst City” because of crime, corruption, drugs, illiteracy, poverty and you name it.

Yet the boys in blue of the Garden State spend the tax dollars of my family and friends to bust a bunch of high profile people who committed the heinous crime of taking Villanova and St. Joseph’s under the total.

Like I’ve always said, they could actually tax what should be a legal activity and take the tariff revenue to fight things like crime, corruption, drugs, illiteracy, poverty or build schools.

It seems to me law enforcement in Mount Holly would be better off keeping drugs out of kids hands or even stuffing their pieholes with cheesesteaks. Nah, let’s get those people who want to risk their own legally earned money on the outcome of tonight’s game off the streets. It will make me feel secure the next time I go to Ponzio’s Diner and get some black and white cookies that law enforcement around me has their priorities straight.

However hold off your New Jersey jokes for now.  Other states are just as disjointed. Why don’t I feel the world is one bit a better place for future generations now that Sportingnews agreed to pay a $7.2 million dollar fine because they promoted “illegal” sportsbooks in print, radio and its website? 

Frankly I could gloat. Truth is Sporting News Radio briefly filed a lawsuit against me, dropping it once they realized how frivolous it was. But they are only the latest in a line of multi-million fines from the busybody government.

Discovery Channel forfeited $6 million, PayPal $10 million.  Could you imagine how much tax revenue would be raised if the government ever decided you have more right to decide what to do with your hard earned money than they do? Instead of collecting taxes revenue, let’s spend it on prosecuting what should not be a crime to begin with.

Thanks Catherine Hanaway, U.S. attorney for eastern Missouri.  The world is much safer for democracy now that you’ve made it tougher for some guy in St. Charles to bet $15 on an Arena Football game.

Now south Jersey and eastern Missouri residents can rest easier at night knowing our government is as a high profile commentator likes to say “looking out for us”.  Then again, don’t bet on it.

Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com   He is former General Manager of the Freescoreboard scorephone network and CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com, the premier hub of world-class handicappers.