Yesterday, millions of people became criminals, deliberate violators of the law.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament began, and many people, according to the Chicago consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, started following the tournament to see how their brackets stacked up in office pools.
Most states outlaw gambling of any form, but office pools are more about having fun and building bragging rights than making a quick buck.
It's not like anyone is putting their house on the line when they pick George Mason to return to the Final Four. No one is selling the rights to their first-born when they predict Davidson to make the Sweet 16.
We've all taken part in or at the very least been witness to this traditional part of American culture. The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is gambled on the NCAA tournament, with only $80 million bet legally through sports books in Nevada. That leaves more than $2.4 billion gambled illegally, the significant majority by people like us - employees toiling in cubicles across the country.
We throw in, typically, anywhere from $5 to $20 to get as close to being a college basketball analyst as we ever will get. If we've done our research, we have only a slightly better chance of coming out ahead than the person who's never watched a game and picks brackets based on college nicknames.
Every year, near the end of February or beginning of March, law enforcement agencies across the country caution people against entering college basketball pools. They remind us that the pools are illegal if there is an entry fee involved.
Most people view a $5 or $10 office pool as a harmless diversion. For the most part, that is exactly what it is.
Others don't see it that way.
"One of the things we say is that all gambling starts out as recreation," said Keith Whyte, director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "Obviously, for some people it progresses to a problem. That's not to say that the guy who spends 20 hours constructing the world's best bracket is going to become a problem gambler."
Far from it. The majority of people who go from filling in, erasing and revising a bracket gamble on the craziness that is the NCAA tournament, only to guard their money the rest of the year.
One state legislator in Wisconsin has tried to change statutes he says are outdated and rarely enforced.
"Right now, in every office and factory - and maybe even in some state capitols - there are people engaging in criminal behavior," Wisconsin Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee said. "It's just silly."
It is. Plale last year introduced legislation that would have legalized most office pools in Wisconsin. It never made it to a vote, although Plale said no one spoke in opposition.
Plale plans to reintroduce the bill. While we have criticized the state Legislature for doing nothing, or passing some silly laws, this one should fly through all levels of government and become a law. It's a slam dunk.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament began, and many people, according to the Chicago consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, started following the tournament to see how their brackets stacked up in office pools.
Most states outlaw gambling of any form, but office pools are more about having fun and building bragging rights than making a quick buck.
It's not like anyone is putting their house on the line when they pick George Mason to return to the Final Four. No one is selling the rights to their first-born when they predict Davidson to make the Sweet 16.
We've all taken part in or at the very least been witness to this traditional part of American culture. The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is gambled on the NCAA tournament, with only $80 million bet legally through sports books in Nevada. That leaves more than $2.4 billion gambled illegally, the significant majority by people like us - employees toiling in cubicles across the country.
We throw in, typically, anywhere from $5 to $20 to get as close to being a college basketball analyst as we ever will get. If we've done our research, we have only a slightly better chance of coming out ahead than the person who's never watched a game and picks brackets based on college nicknames.
Every year, near the end of February or beginning of March, law enforcement agencies across the country caution people against entering college basketball pools. They remind us that the pools are illegal if there is an entry fee involved.
Most people view a $5 or $10 office pool as a harmless diversion. For the most part, that is exactly what it is.
Others don't see it that way.
"One of the things we say is that all gambling starts out as recreation," said Keith Whyte, director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "Obviously, for some people it progresses to a problem. That's not to say that the guy who spends 20 hours constructing the world's best bracket is going to become a problem gambler."
Far from it. The majority of people who go from filling in, erasing and revising a bracket gamble on the craziness that is the NCAA tournament, only to guard their money the rest of the year.
One state legislator in Wisconsin has tried to change statutes he says are outdated and rarely enforced.
"Right now, in every office and factory - and maybe even in some state capitols - there are people engaging in criminal behavior," Wisconsin Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee said. "It's just silly."
It is. Plale last year introduced legislation that would have legalized most office pools in Wisconsin. It never made it to a vote, although Plale said no one spoke in opposition.
Plale plans to reintroduce the bill. While we have criticized the state Legislature for doing nothing, or passing some silly laws, this one should fly through all levels of government and become a law. It's a slam dunk.
