Sports betting can be safe, legal

In response to the Perspectives column written by Mark Stone, "Place a bet. Now go to jail":

While I recognize that a nice "good guys vs. bad guys" story makes good press, factual errors do not. Typically, the sports betting story tends to focus on some rough old illegal bookie lurking in a dingy bar, settling numbers and making vague threats. And the law is either around the corner, or closing in. The moral and message of the tale is clear: Sports betting is illegal. But it's a lie.

Betting on sports is not, in fact, a breach of federal law. I'm not referring to bookies or runners, of course. Those activities are clearly barred.

What I am referring to is the individual, the bettor. What he/she does is perfectly legal under federal law. The federal anti-gambling statutes clearly exclude individuals, and case law proves this.

It is simply not true that individual bettors can face federal prosecution and jail time for placing a simple wager--whether online or off. Nor is prosecuting individual bettors contemplated in the anti-gambling bills due for consideration by Congress.

BetBug has achieved its simple but important goal--namely to create a legal, safe way for individuals to bet on sports online. We do this by removing the middleman/bookie. And we have confirmation that we're legal from one of the leading gaming lawyers in the United States.

BetBug.com uses P2P file-sharing technology to enable individuals to share bets instead of files. A bettor simply downloads free BetBug software and can then connect directly with other bettors to bet legally, anonymously and safely with other individuals. He is guaranteed to get paid, and his money is safe in a certified bank account. There's no bookie. There's no central server transmitting wagering information. There's no risk of a criminal element becoming involved.

It may not be a hot story to tell individuals that they can now bet freely, safely and securely with one another while eliminating organized crime's involvement in sports betting. But it's something they deserve to know.

John O'Malia
CEO, 1X
Ontario

 

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