Monday, October 27
So much for New Jersey accepting legalized sports bets.
Everything was in place for that to happen beginning yesterday. But the proceedings were halted when a federal judge, Michael Shipp, issued a temporary restraining order following a request to do so by the major sports leagues and NCAA.
Shipp said the leagues showed they would be irreparably harmed if casinos and racetracks in New Jersey were allowed to accept sports bets. “More legal gambling leads to more total gambling, which in turns leads to an increased incentive to fix plaintiffs’ matches,” Shipp said.
What a tool this Shipp is.
There was close to $3.5 billion wagered annually on sports in Nevada alone two years ago, according to the American Gaming Association, a Washington-based trade group.
If you estimated how much is wagered nationwide each year on sports through street bookies and the Internet it would run into the hundreds of billions.
I would argue that the leagues would be irreparably harmed if they DID NOT allow sports wagering. Who in their right mind, for instance, would watch an Orlando Magic-Sacramento Kings game if they didn't have a wager or fantasy basketball involvement?
The pro leagues need to grow up, face reality and stop being such damn hypocrites.
On the handicapping front, I'm passing on tonight's NFL game. I can't get behind the Cowboys at this big of a price, but I don't want any part of the Colt McCoy-led Redskins. I can't get involved in the total either because of McCoy. The NBA season opens Tuesday and there is an over/under I really like. That play and my home page can be found at: /pregamepros/pro-bettor/bettor.aspx?id=7746#capper.
As always, no bad luck!