Dear Crabby, I Hear and See so Many Gambling Ads Now. What’s the Deal with Online Betting in Michigan?
Sincerely, Kelly Criterion
Dear Kelly,
If you haven’t heard about online betting coming to Michigan then I’ll give you 2 to 1 odds that you’re living under a rock. Our Governor – before she was drafting executive order after executive over – signed into law a package of gambling expansion bills to legalize online casinos, poker sites, online betting, and in person sportsbooks.
Sportsbooks, a funny name for a retail place of betting on sports, was the first action to arrive back in March of 2020. You know what else hit us at that time (who bet 2000 restaurants to close in Michigan by the end of the year … ’cause you’re a winner). Since these “sportsbooks” were located in casinos – in person gambling closed due to the pandemic – and that action was cut short.
However, online betting was always in the cards, it just didn’t get going until late January of this year. I’m not really much of a gambler, I like my money right where it is, in my pocket and not yours, but I’ll bet you the next ad you hear on the radio or TV will be for an online gaming site. There are dozens of new online betting sites, all tied to casinos (and you know what casinos do … they take your money). But it’s all just for fun, right?
Losing your car, your bank account, your house, your wife, and your life does not sound like fun to me. Online betting just makes it too easy to wager your mortgage payment or grocery money. It’s up to you of course, just be warned. When you had to drive to the casino, park, and deal with all that smoke, it made it a tougher sell for many folks. But now, with a push of button, you can drain your bank account on a hunch without leaving your house (you know, the place you live because you worked hard to earn the money to buy it).
Okay, I can hear some people yelling at me that I’m taking one side on this. I’ll hedge my bet, I’m sure many adults out there are safe, responsible players who do it just for some fun. “Know your limits” and all of that stuff. However, the online games are very much like video games and the makers are going after the younger player – someone who feels they’re good at video games. Again, be warned, this is not Fornite, Minecraft, or Destiny 2.
Anyway, because of the pandemic, online betting has sure taken off. And with national sports returning, this whole idea of gambling from your phone is hot. But not for me, I can barley text my grandchildren. Life is already a gamble, I don’t need more risk in my life.
But hey, if it’s for you, then have fun with it. Remember you must be 21 or older to play and you must relinquish a ton of personal information. There are lots of incentives to sign up right now, so check them out if you like.
May the odds be ever in your favor,
Dear Crabby.
Stuck in a rut? Need some biased advice from a crabby old baby-boomer? Then email me your question at dearcrabby@rochestermedia.com. You can also head on over to my Facebook page and tell me how wonderful I am.