With anti-gambling legislation in force on the Internet, and recent developments in a recent bust and 4 arrests in Phoenix AZ, it is apparent the governments efforts have once again clouded the sports gaming scene with the stark reality that gamblers are forced to seedy outlets for their wagering in lieu of going offshore in a controlled and regulated environment, and a good system of checks and balances. A strong argument for legislators and key players in the fight to overturn this legislation passed late in 2006.
Organized crime was mentioned in this bust which involved as many as 44 search warrants on Monday according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's office in Arizona. Also Tradewinds Sportsbook in Costa Rica has been named in this situation, which is a slap in the face to legit offshore sportsbooks operating in Costa Rica. One can only hope that local Costa Rican authorities can and will investigate and shut them down. One bad apple in this delicate balance right now CAN spoil the whole bunch, as the guilty by association rule applies here. With ties to the mafia or organized crime on the East Coast, this brings to light a valuable scenario for fuel when it comes to fighting anti-gambling legislation, which Representative Barney Frank is mounting a charge against to ease restrictions on the ban, which clearly is a violation of civil liberties in this handicappers opinion. It sounds like organized crime to me, from what I have seen and witnessed on TV over the years and heard about in Las Vegas over the years from old timers who have been around the block. Interest rates of 51% on past due losses, homes being lost, violence being applied, and collectors of debts who represented the bookies and key principles in this ring using some old school muscle. The wagers were made offshore in Costa Rica based betting websites, and then collected or disbursed in person in bars throughout the Phoenix Metro area according to local authorities. A serious violation, no doubt, of American gambling laws, and these folks did deserve what they got. I am not arguing that point here, just bringing to light a larger problem.
Is this what gamblers are forced to? I say no it is not, and the sportsbooks on-line right now, a carefully chosen few of which are on my website, tell me they are in it for the long haul, it is simply a matter of funding your accounts through legal methods, mainly cash or debit cards. Do you not think that is better than "floating" money and betting blue sky? If you have $400 in your account and want to bet $1000 on the Mariners on the moneyline, you can only bet what is in your account offshore, unless you front the money that you have on hand, or can afford to lose. This really cuts down on calling a local guy, and wagering over your head, and chasing losses, which is the main ingredient in a gambling problem.
While there are options on-line for wagering sports and or playing poker on-line, it is harder to fund accounts and receive payouts in a legal matter, but I am assured from my sources at my 2 sportsbooks I sponsor on my site, both large and well known operations, they are building a better mousetrap in order to skate the line of legality while offering a service for their valued clients. I do not think this situation in Phoenix and the fall out from it is an indictment of all offshore sportsbooks, but it is a wake up call to sports bettors who might be back in the States, wagering through unsavory characters who are now back in business because of offshore limitations imposed buy the US government. If organized crime was slowly disappearing due to many large syndicates or crime families mainly being put away in prison over the past 20 years, the ones left standing have found a new source of creating revenues once again, courtesy of the US Government. Just another example of the ripple effect from this poorly written and ill conceived legislation that needs to be addressed and overturned or re-written.
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