JOHN STOSSEL: March Madness Was Good Time For Reflection About Government’s Disgusting Hypocrisy On Gambling

Did you bet on March Madness?

I did, and many of you did, too. Americans bet billions on NCAA tournaments. We also “spent $60 billion at casinos last year (and) about $12 billion on online sports betting,” notes economist Jason Sorens in my new video.

Sorens published a state-by-state ranking of gambling freedom across America. Nevada lets gambling flourish, while Utah, Hawaii and Georgia ban most of it.

Now some politicians want to ban more. Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker moved to ban arcade-style gambling machines found in gas stations and convenience stores, loftily saying, “It’s not OK to tempt our residents … to gamble away their hard-earned dollars.” Some states ban at-home poker games, occasionally even arresting players.

Bureaucrats at former President Joe Biden’s Commodity Futures Trading Commission tried to prohibit betting on elections. Now no-fun U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal want sports betting banned again.

OK, it’s true that gambling can create problems. The National Council on Problem Gambling offers help here. But gambling is also a kick. And in a free country, people should be allowed to take risks.

“This is a way of having fun,” says Sorens, “often in a social environment, doing it with friends, adding some extra ‘zing’ while they watch a game.” What bothers me is the raw hypocrisy of the politicians.

The same bullies who want to ban gambling don’t propose banning the worst form of it – their own state lotteries. “It’s ridiculous,” says Sorens, “You have politicians grandstanding (about gambling’s harm) … and at the same time, they advertise a worse form of gambling!”