I do not bet on sports. I was married before I really even understood the rules of football. My wife had to explain them to me. I love to watch sports, but I do not understand or keep up with the stats, fantasy football, etc. I am mostly alone among my friends in that regard. On Sundays, a group of friends sit on my porch. Between the cigars, food, and bourbon, most of them use an app and place small bets on the games we are watching. I don’t understand it. They tend to break even.
As a voter . I vote no . Sure it’s a free society but that doesn’t mean anything goes. What if your actions prevented someone from accepting Jesus as their Savior.
Does Erick really believe that because drugs are illegal that people don’t get on the roads and drive? Come to my street just north of downtown and take a stroll. Inevitably, a car will pass with the windows rolled up and you can still smell the weed coming out of it. I’m not saying people should drive stoned, but alcohol is legal and driving above a certain Blood alcohol level is not, yet it still happens. With the reckless driving around here, I’d say there may be more meth and coke heads on the road than pot heads.
Legalize Sports Betting today, then we justify the next incremental step to expanded gambling by saying, "Well, we allow Sports Betting, what's the problem with legalizing ___________ (whatever the next step the pro gambling lobbying decides is ok). Georgia does not need the (false) promise of big revenue and benefits, or to bless this bad incremental step to expanded gambling.
The state is not blessing anything, it is allowing free people to engage in something mankind has been doing for thousands of years. Something that does no harm to anyone else.
You missed his last line...it is only a slippery slope if we allow it to be.
I am sorry but there are reasons that sports betting should not be allowed. My father became addicted to sports betting and moved onto more serious betting - he was an up and coming executive. We went from a great future that disappeared when he started embezzling money to cover his debts. We lost our home, he went to prison, we ended up in a house that had heat in one room and no hot water, I was the oldest of 6- this was in Pennsylvania - cold winters. My mom couldn't pay the rent and I think the owner didn't want to kick us out but thought we would just move - 4 years later we did when at 18 I found us a place to live. I went to work at 15 to help pay the bills while my mom went from a good lifestyle to cleaning peoples homes. Much more detail but this is enough. Don't tell me there are not victims of betting.
So because your dad (and some others) can't control their vices, we punish everyone? Strip those who can bet in sports responsibly of their right to do so?
When did the state allowing free people to engage in certain behaviors become the same thing as a government endorsement?
I don't mean to be flippant, your story is heartbreaking.
The problem is, legal or not your story plays out. Don't conflate "legal" with advocating.
One of the major issues I have with legalizing weed and drugs in general is we don't have an effective campaign of educating people, particularly youth, about the negative and permeate consequences. Drugs are cultural, drinking and gambling are social.
There is little difference between buying stocks on TD Ameritrade or Robin Hood (aps) and sports betting.
Both alcohol and gambling are woven into our society. Both are advocated, but so is abstinence.
Mostly agree on gambling and casinos. Since they are here, it should be highly regulated and taxed. We have lotteries in VA not a good thing. the best thing to be said is that it is "voluntary taxation."
Georgia has always used the ploy that he money generated goes to education . My taxes go to schools and teachers but taxpayers never benefit from gambling. It requires employees to regulate it and they require a decent wage to live.It would also require police eventually for the probe as to why someone was eliminated because of the loss of money. I see nothing but problems and I really don’t see Jesus approval and he is the one I have to answer too .
I agree with your opinion totally. It’s issues like this that hold back Georgia to archaic thinking that has no truth or value in the greater good of GA citizens. I am 71 and fiscally conservative and I do not believe state elected officials can legislate people’s beliefs or behavior. I do not want any government telling me what is “good” or “right” for me. Fortunately I was blessed with a well-functioning brain and I like to consider my options and decide what I want to do.
No. Gambling is corruption. Organized gambling is organized corruption, especially on sports. I’d be less against slot machines because at least government can audit them for payout ratios and randomness. With sports it’s an invitation to cheating and scandal. Kind of like Wall Street.
Well, since like your friends sitting on a porch, if nobody is enforcing it its already legal. It is similar to taking your phone out at a concert and taking video. This practice used to be severely punished at the concert and people removed. Axle Rose stopped an entire concert because he saw someone recording. BUT nowadays, everyone has a phone and is recording and they don't enforce it although it says on the ticket "No Video recording of any kind.."
Just like many dumb laws such as in Atlanta, you can't park your horse on a sidewalk on Sundays or walk backwards on Saturday. So why waist time and resources making a bill legalizing something that nobody enforces as wrong nor cares about.
Ok... I struggle with this line between Scripture & gambling. Many people--primarily poor who cannot afford this--are taken advantage of due to their lack of good math & logic skills. Government should protect people from unknown unknowns--what people cannot readily see. But known unknowns like the dangers of gambling, that’s Nanny State territory.
While I have problems with the moral aspect of wasting one’s needed resources on wagering, like drinking it must be handled carefully on an individual’s choice. Christianity does not demand that everyone believe Scripture’s teaching--it takes the presence of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that.
If the Legislature chooses to exercise their will to approve this, then do so. They will minimally no longer set people’s personal choices up as felonies.
The natural instinct in politics is to imagine the worst case scenarios and use them to attack or defend a position. (i.e. pro choice advocates go right to rape and incest to defend abortion.)
It is certain sports betting will lead to some corruption and some individuals will make poor decisions that negatively impact their lives. But that will be the minority. The vast majority of people will responsibly place small bets on certain events and enjoy the thrill of a possible win.
This is a surprising recommendation! This is a variation on the “if you can’t beat ‘em, might as well join ‘‘em and attempt to gain something good,”.but the record of successes in this regard seem, in Norm Augustine’s words, “unblemished by success.” It has lots of unintended consequences. Yes, betting on sports has been with us a long time, but surely the connection between the increase in betting and the incredible growth in funding for professional and college football - stadiums, coaches & player salaries, etc has been solely powered by TV revenue. The betting industry is influencing things. Increasing gambling will increase the pressure on players and coaches to play in ways that become less genuine. I’m for not making it criminal at small levels, but developing more ‘industry’ using the shiny object of more funding for things like Pre-K Ed, not so much.
I understand your argument for sports betting, but it's like this. As a society, we can either try to promote the things that help people (in general) be/act/live better, or we can promote those things that don't make us "better". While your friends may-well break even or even make some money, and it may not be anything more to them than an enjoyable hobby, to assume that it will be the same for everyone else is "giving up" the moral high ground on gambling. Does gambling benefit society as a whole? In my opinion, it does not. It promotes the idea that one can get much with very little. That's simply not true in most endeavors. I'd be all for razing casinos, getting rid of the lottery and making sports betting illegal forever. I don't feel morally superior to anyone who gets involved with those practices, games etc. But, if I resist the temptation to gamble my hard earned money away, I'll also never lose it for nothing. And for that, I'm definitely "better" than I would've been.
"We only slide down a slippery slope if we choose to." I am not saying I agree with or oppose the sports gambling. But, this statement by Erick is flawed. Left intact, this statement can be used to legalize recreational drugs. Start using with marijuana. Move on to other drugs. Start with sports gambling. Move on to other forms of gambling. Lose a bet. Double down on the next one. And, the next one. And, the next one....
The argument of legalizing it and taxing it is flawed, too. No form of taxing is ever going to be enough for legislators. Once they get this new revenue source, then will spend it (and more). Then, the debt continues. Then, they look for other revenue streams. Recreational marijuana. Then, recreational harder drugs.
Again, I am not going to lose sleep tonight, if their state legislature legalizes sports betting today. But, let's not pretend that anything of the sort is going to be the one thing that finally solves all of our problems.
People might OK horse racing in Gorgia if they experienced a trip to Hong Kong racetracks, Happy Valley and ShaTin, which I recall are open two days a week. I went a few times as a guest of the American Club, which has a large skybox and had a great time. Races ran every half hour. After each race, we went to the buffet to get food and wine. Then we looked at the betting odds screens for the next race and decided on which horses to bet. Then we crossed the hallway to the betting windows. I always bet KH$50 (or U.S.$4.15). Then we went back to the air-conditioned skybox and watched the race. Some stepped out to the bleachers. As you may have figured out, I'm not a gambler, but had I lived in HK, I would have joined a club with a skybox at ShaTin and spent most Saturday or Sunday afternoons out there.
I don't like gambling of any kind. So I won't gamble. Organized crime loves gambling. I lived in Florida where there is horse racing, dog racing and Jii alai and who knows what else. I am funny, when I spend money I want something back for it I can hold in my hand. I would pay to ride with a good driver around a road course. I am not big on telling other people what to do with there lives. I love order. The world has enough chaos. I think God set or sets an order in the world and I want to contribute to that order.
I don’t gamble, I don’t drink alcohol or smoke also don’t buy drugs from unlicensed pharmacists.
I vote to please Jesus.See how easy that is.
As a voter . I vote no . Sure it’s a free society but that doesn’t mean anything goes. What if your actions prevented someone from accepting Jesus as their Savior.
Does Erick really believe that because drugs are illegal that people don’t get on the roads and drive? Come to my street just north of downtown and take a stroll. Inevitably, a car will pass with the windows rolled up and you can still smell the weed coming out of it. I’m not saying people should drive stoned, but alcohol is legal and driving above a certain Blood alcohol level is not, yet it still happens. With the reckless driving around here, I’d say there may be more meth and coke heads on the road than pot heads.
Legalize Sports Betting today, then we justify the next incremental step to expanded gambling by saying, "Well, we allow Sports Betting, what's the problem with legalizing ___________ (whatever the next step the pro gambling lobbying decides is ok). Georgia does not need the (false) promise of big revenue and benefits, or to bless this bad incremental step to expanded gambling.
The state is not blessing anything, it is allowing free people to engage in something mankind has been doing for thousands of years. Something that does no harm to anyone else.
You missed his last line...it is only a slippery slope if we allow it to be.
Only single individuals bet on sports you say? None have families so they can’t hurt anyone else. Hogwash
Smoking hurts families. Drinking destroys families. Infidelity hurts families.
All legal.
Should we start banning everything that can hurt a family?
That is a level of authoritarianism nanny state I am not in favor of.
I am sorry but there are reasons that sports betting should not be allowed. My father became addicted to sports betting and moved onto more serious betting - he was an up and coming executive. We went from a great future that disappeared when he started embezzling money to cover his debts. We lost our home, he went to prison, we ended up in a house that had heat in one room and no hot water, I was the oldest of 6- this was in Pennsylvania - cold winters. My mom couldn't pay the rent and I think the owner didn't want to kick us out but thought we would just move - 4 years later we did when at 18 I found us a place to live. I went to work at 15 to help pay the bills while my mom went from a good lifestyle to cleaning peoples homes. Much more detail but this is enough. Don't tell me there are not victims of betting.
So because your dad (and some others) can't control their vices, we punish everyone? Strip those who can bet in sports responsibly of their right to do so?
When did the state allowing free people to engage in certain behaviors become the same thing as a government endorsement?
When do we ban alcohol?
So prohibition too.
I don't mean to be flippant, your story is heartbreaking.
The problem is, legal or not your story plays out. Don't conflate "legal" with advocating.
One of the major issues I have with legalizing weed and drugs in general is we don't have an effective campaign of educating people, particularly youth, about the negative and permeate consequences. Drugs are cultural, drinking and gambling are social.
There is little difference between buying stocks on TD Ameritrade or Robin Hood (aps) and sports betting.
Both alcohol and gambling are woven into our society. Both are advocated, but so is abstinence.
Mostly agree on gambling and casinos. Since they are here, it should be highly regulated and taxed. We have lotteries in VA not a good thing. the best thing to be said is that it is "voluntary taxation."
Georgia has always used the ploy that he money generated goes to education . My taxes go to schools and teachers but taxpayers never benefit from gambling. It requires employees to regulate it and they require a decent wage to live.It would also require police eventually for the probe as to why someone was eliminated because of the loss of money. I see nothing but problems and I really don’t see Jesus approval and he is the one I have to answer too .
If Jesus would not approve, don't gamble. See how easy that is?
But in a free society people are free to engage in activities we may not agree with.
I agree with your opinion totally. It’s issues like this that hold back Georgia to archaic thinking that has no truth or value in the greater good of GA citizens. I am 71 and fiscally conservative and I do not believe state elected officials can legislate people’s beliefs or behavior. I do not want any government telling me what is “good” or “right” for me. Fortunately I was blessed with a well-functioning brain and I like to consider my options and decide what I want to do.
No. Gambling is corruption. Organized gambling is organized corruption, especially on sports. I’d be less against slot machines because at least government can audit them for payout ratios and randomness. With sports it’s an invitation to cheating and scandal. Kind of like Wall Street.
Well, since like your friends sitting on a porch, if nobody is enforcing it its already legal. It is similar to taking your phone out at a concert and taking video. This practice used to be severely punished at the concert and people removed. Axle Rose stopped an entire concert because he saw someone recording. BUT nowadays, everyone has a phone and is recording and they don't enforce it although it says on the ticket "No Video recording of any kind.."
Just like many dumb laws such as in Atlanta, you can't park your horse on a sidewalk on Sundays or walk backwards on Saturday. So why waist time and resources making a bill legalizing something that nobody enforces as wrong nor cares about.
I like the thought process. I will paraphrase with, cop didn't see it, I didn't do it.
But with legalization comes taxation, and it removes the government's ability to selectively go after someone to make an example out of them.
Selective enforcement of the law is actual corruption because it involves the government and law enforcement.
Ok... I struggle with this line between Scripture & gambling. Many people--primarily poor who cannot afford this--are taken advantage of due to their lack of good math & logic skills. Government should protect people from unknown unknowns--what people cannot readily see. But known unknowns like the dangers of gambling, that’s Nanny State territory.
While I have problems with the moral aspect of wasting one’s needed resources on wagering, like drinking it must be handled carefully on an individual’s choice. Christianity does not demand that everyone believe Scripture’s teaching--it takes the presence of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that.
If the Legislature chooses to exercise their will to approve this, then do so. They will minimally no longer set people’s personal choices up as felonies.
The natural instinct in politics is to imagine the worst case scenarios and use them to attack or defend a position. (i.e. pro choice advocates go right to rape and incest to defend abortion.)
It is certain sports betting will lead to some corruption and some individuals will make poor decisions that negatively impact their lives. But that will be the minority. The vast majority of people will responsibly place small bets on certain events and enjoy the thrill of a possible win.
This is a surprising recommendation! This is a variation on the “if you can’t beat ‘em, might as well join ‘‘em and attempt to gain something good,”.but the record of successes in this regard seem, in Norm Augustine’s words, “unblemished by success.” It has lots of unintended consequences. Yes, betting on sports has been with us a long time, but surely the connection between the increase in betting and the incredible growth in funding for professional and college football - stadiums, coaches & player salaries, etc has been solely powered by TV revenue. The betting industry is influencing things. Increasing gambling will increase the pressure on players and coaches to play in ways that become less genuine. I’m for not making it criminal at small levels, but developing more ‘industry’ using the shiny object of more funding for things like Pre-K Ed, not so much.
I understand your argument for sports betting, but it's like this. As a society, we can either try to promote the things that help people (in general) be/act/live better, or we can promote those things that don't make us "better". While your friends may-well break even or even make some money, and it may not be anything more to them than an enjoyable hobby, to assume that it will be the same for everyone else is "giving up" the moral high ground on gambling. Does gambling benefit society as a whole? In my opinion, it does not. It promotes the idea that one can get much with very little. That's simply not true in most endeavors. I'd be all for razing casinos, getting rid of the lottery and making sports betting illegal forever. I don't feel morally superior to anyone who gets involved with those practices, games etc. But, if I resist the temptation to gamble my hard earned money away, I'll also never lose it for nothing. And for that, I'm definitely "better" than I would've been.
"We only slide down a slippery slope if we choose to." I am not saying I agree with or oppose the sports gambling. But, this statement by Erick is flawed. Left intact, this statement can be used to legalize recreational drugs. Start using with marijuana. Move on to other drugs. Start with sports gambling. Move on to other forms of gambling. Lose a bet. Double down on the next one. And, the next one. And, the next one....
The argument of legalizing it and taxing it is flawed, too. No form of taxing is ever going to be enough for legislators. Once they get this new revenue source, then will spend it (and more). Then, the debt continues. Then, they look for other revenue streams. Recreational marijuana. Then, recreational harder drugs.
Again, I am not going to lose sleep tonight, if their state legislature legalizes sports betting today. But, let's not pretend that anything of the sort is going to be the one thing that finally solves all of our problems.
People might OK horse racing in Gorgia if they experienced a trip to Hong Kong racetracks, Happy Valley and ShaTin, which I recall are open two days a week. I went a few times as a guest of the American Club, which has a large skybox and had a great time. Races ran every half hour. After each race, we went to the buffet to get food and wine. Then we looked at the betting odds screens for the next race and decided on which horses to bet. Then we crossed the hallway to the betting windows. I always bet KH$50 (or U.S.$4.15). Then we went back to the air-conditioned skybox and watched the race. Some stepped out to the bleachers. As you may have figured out, I'm not a gambler, but had I lived in HK, I would have joined a club with a skybox at ShaTin and spent most Saturday or Sunday afternoons out there.
The tracks are owned by the Hong Kong jockey club, a charity founded in 1884, which I think also controls betting on the horses and gives the profits of both to charity. Being named to the Board of Stewards is one of the most prestigious appointments in Hong Kong. https://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/english/who-we-are/board-of-stewards.aspx Jockey Club website. https://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/english/who-we-are/purpose-and-core-values.aspx
If there's going to be horse racing in Georgia, then I think that the organizing it along the lines of the Hong Kong jockey club is the way to go.
I don't like gambling of any kind. So I won't gamble. Organized crime loves gambling. I lived in Florida where there is horse racing, dog racing and Jii alai and who knows what else. I am funny, when I spend money I want something back for it I can hold in my hand. I would pay to ride with a good driver around a road course. I am not big on telling other people what to do with there lives. I love order. The world has enough chaos. I think God set or sets an order in the world and I want to contribute to that order.