You Can Bet on It

 Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has decided that on-line fantasy sports’ betting is illegal.  And I don’t know what to think.

On the one hand, an industry that Forbes says will be a $1.7 billion dollar business in a couple of years does make an inviting source of tax revenue.  On the other hand, so would legalizing heroin and other hard drugs.  On the one hand, I don’t do drugs or place bets, so anything that reduces my tax burden is good.  On the other hand, taxes legitimize things.  In other words, a tax on fantasy sports—heroin for those addicted to the action—says in effect, It’s OK.  No, it’s not.

I don’t gamble because I stink at it.  I used to play cards with friends until I realized my “poker face” was pretty much an open book—Doug’s smiling like a Cheshire cat, I fold.  So, my winning pots were small, and it took a while for me to see how bull-headed I could be—Doug’s got his scowl on, I’m in—with a losing hand.  I have opinions on sports and politics, which every once in a while requires me to put my money where my mouth is, but not to the extent anyone’s headed to the poorhouse.  But it’s the memory of Bingo that keeps me from saying tax the fantasy.

When Clare was in first grade at Catholic school, I had to volunteer a certain number of hours at Bingo.  There was nothing cute about seniors spending their Social Security in pursuit of B5.  I particularly remember a non-senior, very attractive and out of place with a crowd given to lucky troll dolls and whatnot.  She was an addict, I’m sure.

Long story short, you cause as many problems as you solve when encouraging addictive behavior.  In the end, Bingo couldn’t save Clare’s school.  It closed a few years ago.  And the gamblers moved on.