Caesar's Better Bettor: Missouri remains the 'No-Me' state for sports betting

In fact, each of the eight states that border Missouri other than Oklahoma either has it in place or has approved such wagering while the “Show-Me” state continues to be the “No-Me” state for sports betting. For the second year in a row, state legislators failed to approve it despite widespread bipartisan support. But it again stalled among political bickering and grandstanding in this year’s session, which ended Friday.

The explosion of such activities brings tax revenue to states that have it, with estimates being that Missouri would have reaped $30 million in the first full year of operation had it been legalized.

Many of those states that don’t allow it, including Missouri, watch money flow across their borders to neighbors that are waiting with open arms — and betting windows. And of course there are ancillary benefits to those locations, such as sportsbook customers buying a meal and drinks while participating in the shunned-in-Missouri activity. Those who don’t live near the state line might even book a hotel room.

There certainly are negative consequences to betting. Some people are suckered in by glitzy sportsbook ads that use celebrities to tout big-payout parlays that in reality have odds that are great for the house but lousy for the bettors. Worse, some people become addicted to betting.

NCAA woes

Sports wagering is here to stay, even if it will be a year or a century before anyone can legally place a bet in Missouri. So it’s time for the perennially slow-to-react NCAA to modify some of its rules regarding its athletes betting in a legal sportsbook.

NCAA regulations currently forbid coaches, athletes and staffers from wagering on any sport in which the organization holds a championship. For instance, a swimmer can’t bet on an NBA playoff game, a gymnast is prohibited from wagering on an NHL contest.

By being so broad it makes it difficult to monitor, although Iowa and Iowa State announced this week that a combined total of 40 people connected with those athletics programs are under scrutiny in a sports-betting investigation.

We’re all for guarding the integrity of sports. We still strongly support baseball’s ban of Pete Rose. We’re in favor of banishing NFL players for wagering on games in the league even if those contests don’t involve that player’s team. Same with college athletes. If you play basketball, don’t bet on any basketball games. Fine.

But what’s wrong with a college fencer at Notre Dame who is of legal age putting down a few bucks at an Indiana sportsbook on a Cubs game? Or a pitcher on Illinois’ baseball team, if old enough, walking into the FanDuel book in Collinsville and plunking down $10 on a hockey game? Or a secretary for Kansas’ athletics department making a $20 bet on the Chiefs?

This sounds as about as outdated as the NCAA’s long prohibition of athletes being paid, which finally was overturned after legal challenges and has opened a clumsy sea of chaos in which players are jumping all over the country seeking greener pastures.

The NCAA also has been forced to change its marijuana policy in recent years as it has become much more widely acceptable — and legal.

But sports betting is different to some in the NCAA.

“I would side on continuing to have very strict and punitive NCAA bylaws,” Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez recently told The Associated Press. “Because what is the upside to allowing sports wagering? Go bet the ponies. Go play blackjack.”

Easier said then done, especially with placing a sports bet as easy as picking up a smartphone in many states.

DC favored in XFL title game

Back in February, just before the third incarnation of the XFL was about to kick off its season, the St. Louis entry in the league that had been dormant for nearly three years was highly regarded by the oddsmakers.

The Battlehawks were the favorite to win the title at two of the region’s three walk-in sportsbooks (Argosy, in Alton, and DraftKings, in East. St. Louis). FanDuel, in Collinsville, had Arlington as the preseason favorite.

While the B-hawks soared off the field, leading the league in attendance and television ratings, they didn’t make the four-team playoffs despite compiling a 7-3 record. They were in the North Division. Arlington, despite going 4-6, qualified from the weaker South Division then upset division champion Houston in the league semifinals. Now the Renegades will be playing North champ (Washington) D.C. for the XFL crown.

D.C. is the favorite in the title contest, which is set for 7 p.m. Saturday on a neutral field — at the Alamodome, in San Antonio. As of Friday afternoon the Defenders were a 7-point favorite at FanDuel, a 6½-point choice at Argosy and DraftKings. The over/under (combined number of points scored) was 48 at DraftKings, 48½ at the other two.

Last is best

All eyes for Kentucky Derby watchers on Saturday were on Mage, who won the Run for the Roses at odds of 15-1. But for a few other bettors, the real focus was on the back of the pack as some sportsbooks offered prices on a last-place finish.

Legendary Las Vegas oddsmaker Michael “Roxy” Roxborough, an interesting person to follow on Twitter (@RoxyLasVegas), had some fun with this on that social media platform this week:

“While Mage was wrapping up the #KentuckyDerby, an epic battle raged 55 lengths behind,” he wrote. “Jaces Road (8-1 to finish last) and Cyclone Mischief (14-1) went head and head for the last 1/2 mile before Irad eased up to lose by a head. Pay Cyclone.”

Cyclone finished 18 lengths behind the winner and never was better than 11th at any of the quarter-mile increments of the 1¼-mile race.

City on hold

St. Louis City SC has been a big profit maker for those who have bet on the MLS expansion club to win each of its games, and despite the team’s recent swoon still are well ahead.

Those who would have bet $100 on City to win each time would be ahead by $977 had they placed their wagers using the three-way line at the St. Louis-area sportsbook that had the most favorable odds the day before the game. The three-way line includes the option of betting on the match to end in a tie as well as on either team to win.

It was a washout last week for City bettors, as its game in suburban Dallas was suspended in the 50th minute because of lightning and is to be concluded June 7. Thus the game is “no action” at most sportsbooks. City had been a big underdog in the match, which was scoreless when it was halted — it was +310 at Argosy Casino, in Alton. That means a successful $100 risk would have returned a $310 profit.

City is in Chicago on Saturday for its first day game of the season (at noon) and again is a significant underdog — the best three-way price as of Friday afternoon was +265, in Alton.