Question of the day
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
With MLBplayoffs underway, the college footballand NFL seasons in full swing and NBA and NHL action just getting started, people across Illinois will have plenty of opportunities to cash in over the next few months.
The state’s sports betting handle — the amount of money wagered — has ranked in the top three with New Jersey and Nevada in each of the last seven monthly reports released by the Illinois Gaming Board.
* The Question: Have you bet on sports since it was legalized? Tell us about it, or tell us why not.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
No. I have no moral issues with it, but it just doesn’t interest me. I also find the ubiquitous ads for it while watching sports annoying as each tries to out-”bro” the next.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:43 pm:
Love sports but just not interested in spending my time and money wagering on them. Might just be me but when you have money riding on the game result it takes away a lot of the fun of watching and makes it too serious.
- AnonymousFool - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:46 pm:
Nope, I would rather play blackjack if I am gambling.
- TJ - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:49 pm:
No. I’m more annoyed by the constant advertising and intrusion of it during sports broadcasts.
- SomeGuy - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:56 pm:
No, I don’t have any money I’m willing to give away.
- Lefty Lefty - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
No. Short answer - I’m a terrible gambler.
“if I had a gun for every ace I have drawn…”
- OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:00 pm:
Yes, had never bet with a bookie or anything. Usually bet $1 on any one thing at most, sometimes they offer “really hard to lose” options and I will be more. Up a few bucks (I deposited money when I opened the account and haven’t added any money since).
Have to say multigame college football bets are fun. Don’t bet nearly as much outside of football season.
- Person 8 - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:01 pm:
Yes, wish I could bet on Northwestern though.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
Nope, never been much of a gambler.
- bkhartbnjo - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:05 pm:
Nope, just not my thing.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
Not my thing. I always go back to how hard it is to make a buck and how easy it is to lose. Life throws enough unexpected curve balls at me. I feel like I don’t need to add to it.
- JDuc - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:15 pm:
Nope, and likely never will. Waste of time and money.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:23 pm:
I’m embarrassed to say yes, and it was a learning experience. Was lured in by the “match your bet” introductory offer. Of course, it was bogus: site credit, have to spend it in a week, and can’t use on any bets with near-even odds. Have since made a few bets on Bear games to try to make them interesting for non-morbid reasons. Hasn’t worked…
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
Nope. Never been interested, and also have seen too many lives ruined by it.
- G'Kar - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:31 pm:
I love baseball and football, but have no interest in gambling on it. If I am going to lose my money, I have plenty of hobbies I can spend it on instead.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:32 pm:
Not after and not before.
A) not into sport
B) not into gambling
- sladay - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
I have on occasion and support the expansion to Illinois colligate teams.
- Papa2008 - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:49 pm:
Nope. Guy in the neighborhood was a bookie in the 70’s and 80’s. Learned the only people that make money gambling are the ones that take the bets.
- Shark Sandwich - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
Once, near Christmas. Got on a lucky one, came in 18 to 1 (excl)
The rest of the evening went downhill pretty bad after that, though. Never again, I swore. Never again.
- Me2 - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:16 pm:
No, because I really don’t understand how it works.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:17 pm:
nope. have never bet. just bet my heart on teams. I’m addicted to that. why can I just not quit loving my teams???
- leonard - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:31 pm:
I am almost 70 bought a lottery ticket once and did not win, gambling is a gimmick I know a lot more losers than winners.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:33 pm:
===Once, near Christmas. Got on a lucky one, came in 18 to 1 (excl)===
I see what you did there. I’ll tell the boys in the NYPD choir.
To the post: no. Gambling does not interest me.
- Tim - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:36 pm:
Yes - took advantage of a BetRivers promo and the waiver of the in-person registration requirement in mid-2020. Doubled my money making some season-long baseball bets and got lucky on a couple others. Cashed out at the end of the year, haven’t bet since. I don’t always enjoy it; sometimes I find it takes the fun out of watching the games.
- westside man - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 4:48 pm:
yes, I have mainly during NFL,NBA, NCAA Football and Basketball season. I enjoy using the app to place my bet via draft kings
- ddp76 - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 5:00 pm:
Yep, I bet regularly. Put 1k in Draftkings in fall of last year. Just to play with. Still using the same funds. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. The house takes their cut and I’m entertained.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
Yup.. all good fun. DraftKings and TVG
- Shark Sandwich - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 5:08 pm:
Nick Name-
I tell ya, it was just a bad night. Found out my gal was super homophobic, and it wasn’t even the worst of it. Sheesh.
- flea - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 5:12 pm:
I bet the horses, only.
- danray - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 5:39 pm:
Not a gambler by any means, but I could see giving it a go if Illinois teams were available to wager on.
- I have not. - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 6:12 pm:
I don’t gamble. Poker is the only true game of skill.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 7:03 pm:
No. They aren’t in business to lose money. I bet on the stock market with my meager savings.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 8:01 pm:
No, don’t bet, I don’t have excess money to throw away. Also, lost most of my interest in sports after it became politicized.
- It’s The Shoes - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 8:38 pm:
Yes, took advantage of the remote registration period. Put in my cash and now playing with my winnings. Hope to be able to wager on Illinois college sports.
- West Side the Best Side - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 9:07 pm:
Shark Sandwich- Happy Christmas your ____.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 10:14 pm:
Yes - and all in all have done ok. Never needed to refund and have pulled out more than my original investment long ago. I don’t bet a lot, but do find it entertaining and fun.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 11:09 pm:
As a Giants fan who, in 1985, was married to a Cardinals fan, NO! Only consider wagering on items where there is no potential for obvious error than cannot be corrected. Things like sprinting / swimming, ski jumping, long jump, etc. in the Olympics. If they take bets on the Olympics.
- up2now - Wednesday, Oct 27, 21 @ 11:46 pm:
Bet on sports? Heck, I’ve never even bought a scratch-off lottery ticket.
- The Dude - Thursday, Oct 28, 21 @ 6:55 am:
74% of millionaires spend 0 dollars every year gambling.
Once I looked into that I have never gambled since(unless you call crypto selling gambling)