Legal Sports Gambling In New York
Fantasy Pools
If you are looking to participate in some gambling in most places in the United States that will not get you in trouble with the law, your options are severely limited. When it comes to sports gambling, common legal opinion is that wagering on sports goes against the fair nature of sports itself, and is therefore not permitted on most events. This holds true in the city of New York, so if you are looking for legal sports gambling in New York, you are going to have to have a good grasp of the laws governing the activity in the city and the state.
Remember, the prevalence of an activity does not necessarily mean that participation will not get you involved in a court case. Parlay cards and moneylines, for example, are against federal laws in all states but Nevada (specifically Las Vegas) but this type of gambling is one of the most popular in the country. Likewise, you can find hundreds of sports gambling sites on the Internet, but for the most part your legal activity is going to be very limited.
One exception here is the fantasy pool. Not long ago fantasy pools were also prohibited under law, but recently they have been recognized as permissible sports gambling activities. The result is that fantasy pools are now a big part of sports culture. Not only do they appear between groups of friends as well as at most places of work, but they are also abundant in publications that cater to sports fans, including magazines, newspapers, and major television networks.
Participating in Fantasy Pools
Because of the sheer number of people in the area, participating in legal sports gambling in New York such as fantasy pools means that you are bound to be up against a lot of competition. It also means that you can become involved in as many pools as you like. Just remember that the larger the pool, the less chance you have of winning, even though you may know the sport like the back of your hand. In fact, it is sort of an unwritten law among poolies that beginners always end up taking the pot, to the aggravation of long time sports fans.
This is especially true when it comes to participating in pools provided by networks and publications. The odds of winning are truly staggering, and it would take a court case to decide if all the participants in these pools are actually people, or if the sports media industry is just taking us all for a ride. Stay out of these pools and concentrate on ones where you have met the participants if you are looking to make any money!
The Best Pools
I have found that the best pools by far are ones that involve a draft-style picking system and that offer trades. The draft eliminates duplicate picks, but this will not always be possible for really large pools. Trading can lead to a lot of money in the pot as well as a lot of money spent, but every poolie needs to offload an injury or a bum player at some point.
Fantasy pools are probably the most popular legal sports gambling in New York opportunity, as they are allowed by law and also really easy for individuals to put together. They also generate a lot of excitement for the sport which they focus on. See also, exotic bets at the horse track.
