I bet on the Grand National, and occasionally the Derby (horserace) too. I've been to York races a few times too - ****ing great day out. Can't you Yanks bet at the racetrack? Apart from that I don't gamble: my old feller nearly bankrupted the family with an addiction to fruit-machines (desperate ****er even tried to embezzle the Masonic branch he was in), so gambling and masons have been two things I've always tried to avoid. But I agree with your point that it should be a choice - especially in 'The Land of the Free'. Do you watch Boardwalk Empire? That Prohibition went well, didn't it?
There is no federal law banning betting. Its a state thing- almost all states have at least some restrictions. Most states have laws against corporations running betting shops. Most have laws forbidding betting on sports or racetracks. Only legal gambling in my state is if it is government ran. (Lottery). That's true for most southern or Midwestern (republican ran) states. Technically its illegal to make a cheap bet with a friend... don't think its common to get arrested for that though. Don't have cable TV or HBO so don't get boardwalk empire.... ... oh and I'm not a yank... just living here.
Soz. You should do what Churchill did when he was over in the US during the prohibition then - he got a doctor's note to say his whiskey was for medicinal purposes. Get a doctor to write a note saying you need to gamble to exercise your heart. Not that you want to gamble anyway....
