Betting the House 

Really?

     Before there was TV, yours truly was addicted to sports on the radio, or in person. In football season, I kept records on four teams - two high schools, one college and one professional. Forty wins was satisfying and expected.

     I never knew the word "betting." 

     Today, there are those who put their home up for sale to pay for a gambling debt. A counselor says, "It's all so accessible, now that you don't have to get in your car and drive to a casino. Sports betting has come under high profile FBI investigations. It is too tempting for players as well as fans." 

     "But fans are the ones who suffer most. Thanks to the rise of mobile sportsbooks, many Americans have found they just can't quit," the counselor says. "A few dollars leads to three-figure losses. Many don't even realize they are addicted."

     "Today, 39 states and the District of Columbia permit gambling. Mobile sportsbooks are legal in 32 states. Using prediction markets, even gamblers living in states that don't allow betting can wager on events. Gamblers wagered more than $148 billion last year, about 45 percent online. Nearly half of men under 50 have an account with at least one sportsbook." 

     What does this say about husbands, fathers, male teachers and voters, etc? We may follow up with this on Monday.

                Jimmy