I made a note to go back into MLB historian John Thorn's book "Baseball in the Garden of Eden" and find the parts about how pre-1900s baseball teams dealt with gambling. I remember seeing a lot of connection to then and now. IIRC, there was a specific gamblers section in some stadiums! Gambling helped with growth and codifying rules but caused problems with integrity. I can't remember if Thorn recorded any mention of how writers or broader society viewed it.
Good points all around, I hadn't noticed as many people saying it was a mistake, but I'm in that camp. As you mentioned, the media getting in bed with it doesn't help, but now that we also have "FanDuel Sports Network," and the like, I see things getting much worse. Great piece, enjoyed it!
Sports gambling is like prostitution, it's gonna happen whether it's legal or not. Given its social harm, you have two legitimate policy choices - 1) ban it because the State needs to send a message it's wrong or dangerous and police it as best you can or 2) legalise and regulate it properly including banning advertising on tv and sports sponsorships.
The US went for neither of these and is now in a mess.
I mentioned the "FanDuel Sports Network" as an example of the depth of this marrying between media/gambling. Your point about prostitution is valid, but then add in a "Bunny Ranch TV Network" and it makes that cliff even steeper. haha
I thought the one uncrossable line would be Disney getting involved - and that ESPN would be therefore be sold given the opportunities for 'ESPN Bet' but nope, money talks and the House of Mouse is all over gambling too.
Like you've said since the beginning, it's going to end badly for someone. Just a question of who and how soon.
I made a note to go back into MLB historian John Thorn's book "Baseball in the Garden of Eden" and find the parts about how pre-1900s baseball teams dealt with gambling. I remember seeing a lot of connection to then and now. IIRC, there was a specific gamblers section in some stadiums! Gambling helped with growth and codifying rules but caused problems with integrity. I can't remember if Thorn recorded any mention of how writers or broader society viewed it.
Scott, I did not know this! I'll have to read Thorn's book.
Man, the parallels between the 2020s and the 1890s are a lot.
I hope it's just you. I don't ever want to go back to the before times.
Good points all around, I hadn't noticed as many people saying it was a mistake, but I'm in that camp. As you mentioned, the media getting in bed with it doesn't help, but now that we also have "FanDuel Sports Network," and the like, I see things getting much worse. Great piece, enjoyed it!
Sports gambling is like prostitution, it's gonna happen whether it's legal or not. Given its social harm, you have two legitimate policy choices - 1) ban it because the State needs to send a message it's wrong or dangerous and police it as best you can or 2) legalise and regulate it properly including banning advertising on tv and sports sponsorships.
The US went for neither of these and is now in a mess.
I mentioned the "FanDuel Sports Network" as an example of the depth of this marrying between media/gambling. Your point about prostitution is valid, but then add in a "Bunny Ranch TV Network" and it makes that cliff even steeper. haha
I thought the one uncrossable line would be Disney getting involved - and that ESPN would be therefore be sold given the opportunities for 'ESPN Bet' but nope, money talks and the House of Mouse is all over gambling too.