If you think Americans are incredulous when it comes to our government's anti-sports gambling stance, try talking to British bookmakers. They are positively stunned about how ignorant some U.S. politicians are when it comes to gaming, especially on the Internet.
"Sports betting over here is viewed as adding entertainment to your sporting experience," said John Coates, CEO of bet365 International Sportsbook and Casino, which has 59 licensed betting offices in the United Kingdom. "If you have a few dollars bet on a soccer match, you enjoy the soccer match more because of it."
It's also that way for most Americans in their major sports. But instead of focusing on millions of untapped revenue and letting people do what they want with their entertainment dollars, the U.S. government concentrates solely on negatives such as underage betting and gambling addiction.
"The best way to stop underage people from gambling is to regulate it," Coates said. "Make sure they can't go into betting shops or open an account.
"I have sympathy for people who have concerns about anything that is taken to excess. But the best way to deal with that is to regulate it and ensure whatever safeguards are necessary be put in so these people are protected."
Pro-betting historical views are deeply ingrained in the British. They have had phone betting for a 100 years. The government started issuing betting office licenses in 1963.
Now there are more than 8,000 betting shops in the United Kingdom. It's not an exaggeration to say there is a book on just about every street corner.
"What surprises me is that they (the U.S. government) don't sit down and look at the UK model," Coates said. "They would see that because the UK regulates gambling, it hasn't meant there are loads of problem gamblers. Indeed, it has meant less problem gamblers because regulations ensure those people are protected.
"Underage gambling isn't an issue here because the police work with you to make sure it doesn't happen."
British bookmakers were taxed 6.75 percent of their handle until two years ago. Because of that, a number of British bookmaking firms fled the United Kingdom to set up phone accounts and Internet betting in places where there was no government tax.
Realizing revenue was being lost, British politicians were savvy enough to meet with various bookmakers and their representatives to see what could bring them back. In October of 2001, the government changed from taxing handle to taxing hold percentage, which is profit after expenses.
This fair compromise brought a lot of bookmakers back to the United Kingdom. The government was able to get its slice of the action, while keeping things regulated and credible. Bookmakers were happy because they no longer had to pass this tax on to the customers. Of course, the gamblers felt good because they could bet more. So it was a win-win situation for everyone.
It's hard to fathom this kind of scenario ever occurring in the U.S.
"If (U.S.) politicians could come over here and see it working in action, I'm sure they'd get the comfort they wanted and be able to realize that this is the way to move the industry forward," Coates said.
"Sports betting over here is viewed as adding entertainment to your sporting experience," said John Coates, CEO of bet365 International Sportsbook and Casino, which has 59 licensed betting offices in the United Kingdom. "If you have a few dollars bet on a soccer match, you enjoy the soccer match more because of it."
It's also that way for most Americans in their major sports. But instead of focusing on millions of untapped revenue and letting people do what they want with their entertainment dollars, the U.S. government concentrates solely on negatives such as underage betting and gambling addiction.
"The best way to stop underage people from gambling is to regulate it," Coates said. "Make sure they can't go into betting shops or open an account.
"I have sympathy for people who have concerns about anything that is taken to excess. But the best way to deal with that is to regulate it and ensure whatever safeguards are necessary be put in so these people are protected."
Pro-betting historical views are deeply ingrained in the British. They have had phone betting for a 100 years. The government started issuing betting office licenses in 1963.
Now there are more than 8,000 betting shops in the United Kingdom. It's not an exaggeration to say there is a book on just about every street corner.
"What surprises me is that they (the U.S. government) don't sit down and look at the UK model," Coates said. "They would see that because the UK regulates gambling, it hasn't meant there are loads of problem gamblers. Indeed, it has meant less problem gamblers because regulations ensure those people are protected.
"Underage gambling isn't an issue here because the police work with you to make sure it doesn't happen."
British bookmakers were taxed 6.75 percent of their handle until two years ago. Because of that, a number of British bookmaking firms fled the United Kingdom to set up phone accounts and Internet betting in places where there was no government tax.
Realizing revenue was being lost, British politicians were savvy enough to meet with various bookmakers and their representatives to see what could bring them back. In October of 2001, the government changed from taxing handle to taxing hold percentage, which is profit after expenses.
This fair compromise brought a lot of bookmakers back to the United Kingdom. The government was able to get its slice of the action, while keeping things regulated and credible. Bookmakers were happy because they no longer had to pass this tax on to the customers. Of course, the gamblers felt good because they could bet more. So it was a win-win situation for everyone.
It's hard to fathom this kind of scenario ever occurring in the U.S.
"If (U.S.) politicians could come over here and see it working in action, I'm sure they'd get the comfort they wanted and be able to realize that this is the way to move the industry forward," Coates said.
