[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

That isn't what you said.

But it is what I meant... can't you figure out what I meant? Do I have to spell it out?

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

That is a misconception. Many states run numbers, but the neighborhood runners are still there.

Note I said it would "help" remove Uncle Guido, not that it would completely remove him.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Congress took care of that. I still don't believe they had the right to forbid states from running sports books, but the constitution has never stopped those idiots from doing whatever they want. Only a limited number of states are permitted to run sports books. However, even the legal books would not stop the illegal gambling, just cut their profit margin a bit. Reason: you can call a bookie from your living room and people are lazy. There is also the IRS issues.

Agreed, including on the political statement.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

By the time that happens, the individual has already administered the self-inflicted damage. When it does happen, it is usually a local, isolated case, not some large-scale conspiracy. The folks you mention are given more warning and instruction on how to deal with this issue than you work ball games.

I agree with the self-inflicted part (at least wrt getting into massive debt, etc.). However, people with human weaknesses exist in all professions, and all the lectures and warnings in the world won't keep some from getting themselves into trouble. If someone runs up huge legal debt, they have many remedies available to them, from negotiations to bankruptcy. Illegal debt, however, has no remedy that keeps your kneecaps intact (so to speak), and therefore gives the "victim" (yeah, I know - self-inflicted) limited options.