- Joined
- Oct 19, 2003
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I think it adds to fandom. It gives us average Joe's a chance to profit from a team's success without having billions to buy a team. It also sucks even more when they lose. I don't encourage gambling, it can get out of hand like anything but I find no harm personally in throwing a few bucks on a game to sort of drive my personal enjoyment. It would help if the Suns could win some games but it makes those games in December against bottom feeders like the Wizards more enjoyable, to me, knowing I could walk away with enough to get some new merch for free. That didn't work well this season so those games stung more but if it's not your cup of tea then I respect it.
I've always enjoyed betting on sports although I don't do it any more but even still, it would be hypocritcal of me to rail about sports betting. I sort of feel as you do but mostly because I worry about the integrity of the game and the fact that a certain number of new sports bettors can't really afford it. I'm not really concerned about it "detracting from fandom" as you say. AFAIC we crossed that bridge when fantasy leagues and such became popular.
If one is betting on a game, there may be conflicting views of the game. I want to enjoy sports for the pure enjoyment. This is one of the reasons I have never entertained the idea of sports betting.