We will never understand what it’s like to be so competitive and have the adrenaline rush of 50,000 fans screaming your name while you are knocking in the winning run or scoring the winning basket. This is a rush sitting at home and watching television just can’t replace. So, what do athletes do? They gamble. They get involved with sports betting.

The debate is out whether it is ok for athletes to gamble after the recent comments made by John Daly and Charles Barkley. Daly recently came out and said he has lost between an estimated $50 million and $60 million in the last twelve years due to out-of-control gambling. Barkley followed up by saying Wednesday on ESPN that he has lost “probably $10 million” gambling, adding, “It is a problem for me.”

“Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem, but I don’t consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It’s just a stupid habit that I’ve got to get under control because it’s just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years,” Barkley said.

Embedded in this touchy subject are two issues of great importance. When athletes gamble, how much is too much and what is ok for them to gamble on?

I believe there is a fine line between recreational gambling and just utter craziness. In this situation, Daly is crazy, and Barkley is not. I truly believe it’s ok for a former athlete to call up their local sportsbook and place a small-to-medium wager on a ball club if that athlete feels like this bet will satisfy their need for an adrenaline fix. We, as fans, don’t know what it’s like to be in competition everyday on the greatest stage and then have it snapped away just like that. That transition can be brutal and can lead to depression–the reason most of our childhood heroes fall so far from grace. This is also why athletes stay in the game way too long after they should have retired years before they actually do. For Barkley, it is what it is–a habit that needs to be under control. Does he have to stop? Absolutely not.

On the flip side, we have John Daly. It’s one thing for an athlete to gamble a few million if they can afford it. Hey, it’s their money, and they can spend it how they please. We are not their parents or superiors, and let’s stop pretending we are. It’s another thing, however, to end up flat broke and put your family at risk. That is what a loss of $50 million will do. We all know gambling isn’t the only addiction Daly has gone through; he recently beat an addiction to alcohol. This connection leads us to believe Daly really has a problem, and Barkley does not.

Now, to the most important issue at hand. What sports are appropriate or inappropriate for athletes to gamble on? I have one steadfast rule on this. In no way shape or form should athletes now or ever gamble on their sport. Barkley has responded by saying he never bet on basketball, and I believe he is true to his word. However, if he ever did decide to take sports betting to that next level and gamble on the Kings vs. the Spurs on Friday night, for example, (Spurs -2), it would ruin his credibility as a player and, more importantly, as an analyst, and Barkley is a damn good analyst at that. This is what got Pete Rose banned from the game of baseball for life. We all know what an uphill battle that has been for Rose trying to regain his eligibility to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gambling on one’s own sport is a big no-no and will permanently ruin a career and reputation.

All in all,

However it was the Internet revolution that lent a new facet to the popularity of  gambling and gave it multiple dimensions. With the increasing popularity of the Internet and it’s ever growing reach, several online casinos established shop to cater to a wide population of people wanting to have a great time and make more money sitting at home. Online casinos offer comfort, privacy, multiple payment options and a host of new games for users. Popular games like poker, sports betting, black jack and cards are actually quite the same with most online casinos, contrary to the perception among some quarters that the games played at online casinos are different from the ones enjoyed at traditional land based casinos.

Many online casinos also indulge in charity gambling which has been popular with land based ones for a long time. In charity gambling, popular casino games are overseen by a charity group and the profits go to the charity instead of the casino. There are several online casinos where charity gambling is a permanent fixture.

With a view to understand online casinos even better, they can be categorized into three kinds. Some of the casinos require the user to download a specific casino software in order to play. Most of the times, this software can be downloaded free of cost and offers  real life-like graphics, excellent animation and sound besides a host of other features. The second kind of casinos use the JAVA. However, many people prefer to use the software that can be downloaded from the online casino websites.The third kind of online casinos use HTLM and do not require the players to download any special casino software.

Considering that the ever improving technology offers more and more to those using it, online casinos have not been left untouched by the fact. Several reasons can be attributed to the growing popularity of online casinos, despite the fact that land based ones have been catering to people for a much longer time. A big advantage of using online casinos instead of the traditional land based ones, is that one does not have to travel anywhere to enjoy a casino game, and the same can be done sitting in the comfort of home. Several online casinos also offer tempting bonuses to new customers, thereby adding substantially to their initial deposit. And not to mention the fact that online casinos outline rules and offer better payout percentages that are more gambler friendly as compared to land based casinos.

Win with the right online casino

There is not one but hundreds of online casinos marketing themselves aggressively on the Internet and wanting to take the lion’s share of gamblers. It is however, the individual user who has to take the ultimate decision when it comes to putting his money. There are no ‘written’ or hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing the right casino. However, some basic criteria can definitely be of instrumental help.

It’s always advisable to play at an online casino which has a track record of honesty and reliability. It is very important that the online casino has a legal license and clients do not feel uncomfortable with its functioning. Double checking the fact that there is no ‘casino fee’ and no hidden costs is advisable.

  While live roulette is a game of chance and it is impossible to continually predict where the ball will land there are a few steps you can take to help put the odds of winning in your favor.  In a game of chance using a roulette strategy is no guarantee you will win, but a well devised roulette strategy can decrease your losses, and then you will have a strategy that might give you an opportunity to become a winner.

Picking the right wheel is the first live roulette strategy you should consider, a European wheel only has a single green pocket numbered zero while the American wheel has two giving the casino an extra advantage and you a lesser one. For this reason it’s a good idea to always play on a European wheel.

In order for roulette strategies to work they need to apply a few key points, one is that you need to be able to repeat it.  Money management also plays a part in a roulette strategy, because roulette has a higher “house advantage” than other games such as blackjack.  Some players use what is known as a “negative-progression strategy” or “doubling strategy” they will double up their betting amound every time they dont win.  This is a dangerous strategy to play as it can definitely increase your overall losses, and a single win might only get you back to where you started from. The most common roulette strategy is also the oldest known as the “Martingale system”, this involves both money management and doubling up.

It would be a grave mistake to assume that a team with an average record is playing for nothing. Many teams play hard throughout the season, because they have a shot at the NCAA tournament even if they are low in the conference. Another fallacy that kills sports bettors is betting NCAA basketball like it’s the NBA. You have to remember that NCAA basketball is comprised of young adults, typically 18-21. Most don’t possess the ability to perform at a high level, to think under pressure and to rise to the occasion against all odds.

While colleges fill their basketball teams with the best talent they have available, that does not mean the team will have even one really good player. Some programs out there are just plain bad. Only a small sample of players at the college level will be drafted by the NBA. Most are just street balers going through their college years. College basketball players are more susceptible to emotional swings than NBA players. For this reason, you must pay attention to any recent news and events swirling around the team.

For those that don’t already know, college basketball works on the spread system. For example, let’s say you have UCLA playing at Duke and Duke is -8. You have two options. You can take Duke and lay the 8 points, which means Duke must win by more than 8 for you to win—8 is a tie and only wins on some parlay cards. Your other option is to take UCLA and the 8 points. As long as UCLA win or does not lose by more than 7, you win. If they lose by 8, you tie.

College basketball betting also features the totals line. Not every game played will have a totals line at every sports book. The totals line is the total number of points scored by both participants at an event. For example, if the totals line was 130, you could bet the over or the under. Take the over and you want both teams to combine for 130 or more points. Take the under and you want both teams to combine for 130 or fewer points. Totals lines in college basketball can be both profitable and tricky at the same time.

Why would they allow twenty horses in a race in the first place is a good question and after yesterdays post position draw, the trainers for Lawyer Ron and Brother Derek, have to be fuming on the inside.

Brother Derek the favorite for the “Run for the Roses” has been annihilating opposition in California this spring but the fields have been small and he was a disappointing fourth in his only bulky field from post 13 at the Breeders Cup last November. Now he gets the 18th starting slot!

Dan Hendricks the trainer for Brother Derek has had his share of adversity, with his most recent being a paralyzing accident from a motocross accident is 2004, so he simply suggested jockey Alex Solis will track Lawyer Ron around the 1 ¼ course.

Lawyer Ron trainer Bob Holthus was diplomatic in his horse drawing the 17th hole and suggested that a muddy track will favor horses on the outside. His talented three year -old is unbeaten in six races!

I’m smiling this morning as Bob Baffert’s Bob & John my pick in the Derby has drawn the seven hole and this will allow him to get settled just off the pace and watch the rabbits in the race, run each other into the ground. If it comes up sloppy he has proven himself on this type of surface and he has been bumped around enough in California that the bulky field will not be an issue.

Much has been made of the schedule that Barbaro has used to prepare himself for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby, especially his race five weeks prior to this Saturday. Most insiders suggest that the horse will not be tight enough but he breezed 4 furlongs in an incredible 46 seconds last Saturday at Churchill Downs.

This is USC coach Pete Carroll’s year to re-load and before anyone feels too sorry for him understand that the two players vying to replace Leinart were both regarded as the top prep quarterback in America their senior years. Bush, like Leinart, will be missed, but there’s a roll-call list of young, highly regarded runners anxious to win the job at tailback.

This is a team that went 37-2 the past three seasons with both of those losses coming by three points. Enough quality players return buoyed by a string of recruiting classes regarded among the finest in the country to give USC another shot at being in the middle of the BCS mix.

The problem for the Trojans is their opening week visit to hot, humid and hostile Arkansas where the embarrassed Razorbacks are waiting. Last season, USC hung up seventy points on Houston Nutt’s team and payback is on their minds rather than southern hospitality.

The number floating around Vegas has USC a 10 ½ point pick and I love the dog here and am definitely going to place a bet with my online sportsbook.

That same day, the California Golden Bears travel to Knoxville for a visit with the troubled Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are coming off a pathetic 2005 season and the Golden Bears have been talented the last few years. The problem for bettors here is that the number will be inflated leaning Tennessee’s way as they are thought to have great athletes.

I would assume that Cal will be a + 4 dog and laying the wood with Phil Fulmer’s team is not recommended! Here isn’t going to be any online sports betting from me on this one.