By Samantha Williams

It’s less than a month away; it’s everybody’s choice event and it’s no surprise that while Las Vegas bookmakers are relying heavily on some wishful thinking on good returns this New Year, the expectations of the masses are heading the online Super Bowl 2008. This is one of the biggest events for all gamblers and one can make a ton of money from this popular football tournament. A perfect example of how better odds can steal a game! The key word being convenience, the craze is outrunning the propagandas of the U.S. government’s attempts to put down by force online gambling and sports betting in the county. And the best part is, there remain no geographical restrictions. Everyone can get in on the action!

On the upper edge of popularity, it is the Patriots that still rule the roost. This is because four NFL teams cleared out leaving the odds in favour of the New England Patriots at 2/7; it is also likely to be the shortest odds, since the Internet bookies have emerged for the Super Bowl event.

The news that Las Vegas bookmakers are failing miserably of recent may come as a shock to some, but that it was inevitable if someone doesn’t keep with the times. Online odds captured the market so one need not move over to Vegas for placing a bet; more because a 2/13 on $1,000 shall yield around $135 lesser compared to that yielded online. It’s less expensive to play and the returns are greater. And if you think that you shall anyway find a local bookie than making it to the state of Nevada, know them to be an endangered species that have been almost replaced by the convenience the offshore sports books provide. Playing the Super Bowl online shall also take lesser time – another reason why near about 70% of the entire male population around the globe are willing to give this online gambling a shot.

But pros and cons are old pals and always accompany each other; the word of warning here is that all of you who have by now made up their mind to bet for the 2008 Super Bowl must be very careful and remain conservative about the entire thing; you must select the online sports books with utmost care. It is because there are less honest and trustworthy online sports bookmakers and many more fraudsters who come out play during this time; at the end of the day, one doesn’t want the pink balloons to be pricked by even a golden pin!

But then again, to those people whose way of life is gambling, they don’t care much – they maintain that gambling is all about uncertainty, right? WRONG! One cannot afford to forget that we gamble to win and whether the blame rests on an unregulated industry or not, betting online should only occur after running a proper research on the available online bookmakers, just as much as you would before buying an expensive diamond ring. Good luck and sweet realities!

Twinspires.com is a website where horseracing enthusiasts can go to place bets. It is operated by the owners of the Kentucky Derby, who claim it is a legal gambling operation. Within their FAQ page, they cite a provision that was added to the anti-gambling laws in the year 2006. They interpreted the provision as protecting online horse betting, but the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has a different opinion.

Why the confusion?

The DoJ claims that the provision from 2006 was strictly to enforce the laws put in place against foreign companies, and does not address domestic horse betting. However, they confirm that online horse betting is illegal in the U.S.

On the other hand, the online horse betting industries believe that the IHA amended the Wire Act, legalizing horse betting in the states. Peggy Hendershot is the senior vice president of legislative affairs for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Even she states, “The Interstate Horse-racing Act, as amended in 2000, confirms the legality of online pari-mutual wagering (or pool wagering) on state-regulated horseracing.”

Perhaps one reason for different opinions and interpretations of the law is that the DoJ has never prosecuted an Internet horse betting company. Could it be that they are afraid to lose the case? Many people from the horseracing industry believe this to be the truth. It would be dangerous for the DoJ to lose a case because of the message it would send to the people—that our Department of Justice is wrong. But isn’t that the message they are sending anyways by not pursuing what they claim to be law?

The DoJ should save themselves further embarrassment by either changing their stance on the issue, or clarifying their current law.

First of all, how can there be a law that is understood differently by everyone? This is obviously a problem when the people interpret a law one way and the DoJ decodes it in another. Just how does that happen?

Secondly, if they are stubborn enough to uphold an unconstitutional and unpopular law, at least do it right! My suggestion to them is to recognize the true importance of the issue and convey that to the people they are making laws (in a straight-forward way). If this can’t be done without political drivel and puzzles, drop it. If a law in the making isn’t merely for a personal agenda, then the DoJ should have no problem explaining the law and its purpose.

And to all you horse lovers, don’t be discouraged by the mess the DoJ is creating. It is their own mess, and they will be the ones having to clean it up. So keep betting on your favorite horse and have fun; and of course, Good Luck!

By Victoria Maro