Abstract
A paradox currently exists regarding legal sports gambling in North America: various forms are flourishing in Nevada, Oregon, and several Canadian provinces, while at the same time the United States Congress is conducting hearings on two bills that would prohibit any new state-sponsored sports gambling initiatives. This study examines the issue of why some jurisdictions are enthusiastic about legal sports gambling while others strongly resist the concept. In reviewing these divergent viewpoints, a case study of the newfledged Canadian “Sport Select” gambling format is presented. This example is used to highly the perils and payoffs of a typical state-sponsored sports gambling scheme, with a view toward broadening our understanding of how they work and how they might be fairer to the public.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brams, M. (1977). The economics of the unsuccessful Delaware football lottery. Unpublished manuscript from the Department of Urban Affairs and the Public Policy, University of Delaware.
Browne, B. (1989). Going on tilt: Frequent poker players and control.Journal of Gambling Studies, 1, 3–21.
Christiansen, E. (1990). U.S. gaming handle up only 6% in '89.International Gaming and Wagering Business, 11(7), 22–30.
Clotfelter, C. & Cook, P. (1989).Selling hope: State lotteries in America. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Dombrink, J. & Thompson, W. (1990).The last resort: Success and failure in campaigns for casinos. Reno: University of Nevada Press.
Frey, J. (1985). Gambling, sports and public policy. In A. Johnson and J. Frey (Eds.).Government and sport: The public policy issues (189–218), Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Allenheld.
Furst, T. (1972). Some factors and observations on the upsurge in gambling on spectator team sports. In T. Thornberry and E. Sagarin (Eds.),Images of crime: Offenders and victims (pp. 47–55), New York: Praeger Publishers.
Kallick, M., Suits, D., Dielman, T. & Hybels, J. (1979).A survey of American gambling attitudes and behavior. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute For Social Research.
Johnson, W. (1991). A Sure Bet To Lower Debt.Sports Illustrated. Sept. 2, page 144.
Lapchick, R. & Stuckey, D. (1991). Legalized sports gambling represents “fools gold.”Center for the Study of Sport in Society Digest. Northeastern University,3(3), 2.
Lesieur, H.R. (1992). Compulsive gambling.Society, 29, May/June, 43–50.
Manteris, A. (1991).Super bookie: Inside Las Vegas sports gambling. Chicago: Contemporary Books.
McIntosh, P. (1979).Fair play: Ethics in sport and education. London: Heinemann.
Miller Brewing Company (1983).The Miller Lite report on American attitudes toward sports. Milwaukee: Miller Brewing Co.
Orkin, M. (1991).Can you win? The real odds for casino gambling, sports belting, and lotteries. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Osborne, J. (1991). The evolution of public lotteries in British Columbia: The genesis of a modern lottery scandal. In W.R. Eadington and J.A. Cornelius (Eds.)Gambling and public policy: International perspectives (pp. 285–302). Reno: Institute for Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming University of Nevada, Reno.
Picard, A. (1991, Oct. 4). Hockey lotteries outrage officials.Toronto Globe and Mail, A. 14.
Reilly, P. (1990). Pathological gambling prevalence in New Jersey 1990. Report prepared for New Jersey Department of Higher Education.
Roberts, P. (1991). Sports betting lotteries: Not perfect together.Casino Player. Sept. 38–46.
Rose, I.N. (1991). The rise and fall of the third wave: Gambling will be outlawed in forty years. In W.R. Eadington and Judy A. Cornelius (Eds.),Gambling and public policy: International perspectives (pp. 65–86), Reno: Institute for the study of gambling and commercial gaming, University of Nevada, Reno.
Rosecrance, J. (1985).The degenerates of Lake Tahoe. New York: Peter Lang.
Rosecrance, J. (1987). Bookmaking: A case where honesty is the best policy.Sociology and Social Research, 72(1), 7–11.
Roxborough, M. (1991a). A country wide overview: Will Nevada permit phone betting?International Gaming and Wagering Business, 12(9), 18.
Roxborough, M. (1991b). Know thy customers: Who are they? What makes them tick?International Gaming and Wagering Business, 12(11), 56.
Smith, G.J. (1987). Gambling and sport. The Canadian experience.Arena Review, 11(1), 25–36.
Smith, G.J. (1990). Pools, parlays and pointspreads: A sociological consideration of the legalization of sports gambling.Sociology of Sport Journal, 7(3), 271–286.
Windross, A. (1984). Introduction of legal betting on rugby league. In G. Caldwell, B. Haig, M. Dickerson, and L. Sylvan (Eds.),Gambling in Australia (pp. 276–281). Sydney: Croom Helm.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, G.J. Sucker bet or sure thing: A critical analysis of sports lotteries. J Gambling Stud 8, 331–349 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024121
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024121