Poll: Should sports gambling be legal in the U.S.?

What? You mean, you didn’t realize that putting money on your March Madness bracket was technically a crime?

Because of the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA), betting on any almost any sporting event outside of Las Vegas is illegal.

But that hasn’t stopped it from happening. The federal government estimates that anywhere from $80 to $300 billion is illegally bet on sports every year in America, mostly via bookies or on a number of offshore sports gambling websites.

But recently, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came out and said what few in his position have said before: maybe it’s time for the U.S. to consider legalizing sports gambling. And his argument has gained plenty of traction with cash-strapped states who say a legal sports betting industry could bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue.

But the law is on the books for a reason, and plenty of opponents maintain sports gambling erodes the integrity of the game, and for some, can turn into an addictive, damaging habit.

What do you think? Take our poll below and weigh in in the comments section.