A winning bet
Doug Sibor
Issue date: 9/16/09 Section: Sports
Generally speaking, I am a proponent of obeying the law. I like to know that people who kill, steal and jaywalk are justly punished. The law is what separates our society from complete and utter chaos. However, since last spring I have begun to question whether some laws really help us. I am, of course, referring to the laws the outlaw sports betting in the United States.
Perhaps it was fate that my addictive personality, a surplus of money after collecting cans all semester and spring break in Las Vegas all came together at the same moment. I arrived in Sin City during the height of March Madness, a gambler's dream, where huge underdogs can become lucrative investments as bettors look to cash in on this year's Cinderella story. Since I was playing with house money, placing a few friendly wagers on select teams was too difficult to resist, especially since March Madness is my favorite time of year. I also consider myself an expert on pretty much everything, so naturally I thought I was going to clean up.
As is true in sports, frequently when gambling you win some and you lose some; the key is to hit big on the times you do win and likewise to minimize those inevitable losses. Not to toot my own horn, but I managed to be fairly successful. However, I also realized that the best part of the experience was actually not the times when I won.
Instead, the excitement and exhilaration I felt during the games themselves was my favorite part. Each possession was life or death, every pass and shot so heavy with implications for my own well-being that by the end of the game I was so emotionally spent that it mattered little whether I had won or lost. There is no better way to spice up a contest between two teams you know or care little about than to place a small wager on it; your own personal investment and involvement in the outcome of the game cannot help but enhance your experience.
To those who are thinking, "Why would you gamble on a game when you're really just throwing your money away?" I respond with this question: would you rather make a $10 investment with a possible return, or make a $50 investment with a zero percent possibility of return? This would be the difference between making a small wager and buying a ticket. Personally, I would rather have the feeling of being more involved in the game for less money, and possibly making it all back (and then some).
I would be remiss not to mention that gambling can be a serious problem, and should only be done in moderation. However, if you can exercise the necessary control and can afford to keep it as a recreational activity and not as a means of income, there is no reason one shouldn't be able to place a few wagers if he or she so chooses. Plus, some of the bets you can make are just plain fun; I lost $10 last February because the national anthem at the Super Bowl was longer than one minute 59 seconds. Damn you Jennifer Hudson, damn you.
Perhaps it was fate that my addictive personality, a surplus of money after collecting cans all semester and spring break in Las Vegas all came together at the same moment. I arrived in Sin City during the height of March Madness, a gambler's dream, where huge underdogs can become lucrative investments as bettors look to cash in on this year's Cinderella story. Since I was playing with house money, placing a few friendly wagers on select teams was too difficult to resist, especially since March Madness is my favorite time of year. I also consider myself an expert on pretty much everything, so naturally I thought I was going to clean up.
As is true in sports, frequently when gambling you win some and you lose some; the key is to hit big on the times you do win and likewise to minimize those inevitable losses. Not to toot my own horn, but I managed to be fairly successful. However, I also realized that the best part of the experience was actually not the times when I won.
Instead, the excitement and exhilaration I felt during the games themselves was my favorite part. Each possession was life or death, every pass and shot so heavy with implications for my own well-being that by the end of the game I was so emotionally spent that it mattered little whether I had won or lost. There is no better way to spice up a contest between two teams you know or care little about than to place a small wager on it; your own personal investment and involvement in the outcome of the game cannot help but enhance your experience.
To those who are thinking, "Why would you gamble on a game when you're really just throwing your money away?" I respond with this question: would you rather make a $10 investment with a possible return, or make a $50 investment with a zero percent possibility of return? This would be the difference between making a small wager and buying a ticket. Personally, I would rather have the feeling of being more involved in the game for less money, and possibly making it all back (and then some).
I would be remiss not to mention that gambling can be a serious problem, and should only be done in moderation. However, if you can exercise the necessary control and can afford to keep it as a recreational activity and not as a means of income, there is no reason one shouldn't be able to place a few wagers if he or she so chooses. Plus, some of the bets you can make are just plain fun; I lost $10 last February because the national anthem at the Super Bowl was longer than one minute 59 seconds. Damn you Jennifer Hudson, damn you.
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