Much like marijuana use and jaywalking, sports gambling is just one of those things that goes on even though in many places, it's illegal. Now, New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) is proposing the Garden State get in on the action and make some much-needed money by taxing an activity that's already happening.
This is a great idea. Now, we all have sympathies for gambling addicts, just as we do for alcoholics and pornophiles, but that doesn't mean we think there shouldn't be bars or tasteful nudie mags. Really, both Canada and the U.S. should look to the British for gambling advice. The Brits bet on everything. Horse racing. Football. Celebrity Death. Weather. Everything.
Who knows what fortunes may have been made (in taxes) if someone had made a government-sanctioned bet that the Habs would fire Guy Carbonneau. Or if Don Cherry would criticize Alex Ovechkin again. Or if Shaq would Tweet from halftime. The possibilities are endless.
Basically, if you're going to have casinos and lotteries, you should legalize all sports gambling. Countries are not kindergarten. No need for partial kid gloves. Though, we could go for a government-enforced afternoon nap and snack from time to time. In Canada, there is sports betting but clearly not up to the demands of gamblers, based on the number of them swarming to off-shore online bookies.
So, what do you think? All-out sports betting Thunderdome at home or continued pick-and-choose policies?
