Here’s a lucky 13 thoughts about legal sports betting

The United States Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, just changed the face of the American sports scene. They have opened up sports gambling to any state that wants it, and New Jersey is front row center for the action. After all, we were the ones that brought the lawsuit. Thank you, Chris Christie! A few notes on all this … 1)I had “Supreme Court legalizes sports betting” -1, so the 6-3 score makes me wish I bet more on the outcome.

2) What does it all mean? To nutshell, sports gambling is coming to New Jersey, and it will be here probably within the next few weeks. Monmouth Park has a sportsbook set up and ready to go. The casinos will soon follow. Other racetracks will undoubtedly follow as well.

3) Of course, there’s more to this than just the casinos and racetracks. The state legislature can now do what they please with sports betting, and if they’re smart, they open it up wide. After all, I don’t want to ride out to a track or a casino to place a bet. I want to do it from my phone. And DraftKings and FanDuel, the leading daily fantasy sports sites, seem ready to pounce on that score, if it’s allowed. And obviously, the racetracks and casinos can do the same.

4) Let me be perfectly clear, members of the New Jersey state legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy: Please allow citizens to place bets from their phones and computers. This is 2018. There’s no reason to force me to go to A.C. or Monmouth Park to bet against the soon-tobe 0-16 Dallas Cowboys. Now that we have the ability to bet legally, let’s not make it difficult to do so.

5) Gotta love the fact Hamilton’s own Supreme Court justice, Samuel Alito, wrote the majority opinion in this case. An Italian guy from outside the ‘Burg makes it legal to bet on the Yankees -180. I love America so much.

6) Within the next year, there’s a 50 percent chance I’m going to be one of New Jersey’s foremost authorities on sports gambling, having a daily column touting the day’s best bets and making a six-figure salary betting on the side.

7) Within the next year, there is a 50 percent chance I’m going to be penniless and divorced.

8) Assuming the state allows casinos, racetracks, and daily fantasy sites to develop apps for sports betting here in New Jersey, there’s going to be a lot of people going down the “penniless and divorced” path. Sports gambling can be addicting, and it’s easy to get in over your head.

9) That sound you heard was the Council On Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey slapping their foreheads in disbelief of the ruling.

10) Note this: This decision will end up having farreaching impact. It’s not just a “sports betting” ruling; it’s a state’s rights ruling. I’m no legal expert, so the following ideas are cribbed from SCOUTSblog.com: This ruling deals with the 10th Amendment, which reads, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Meaning? The feds can’t dictate to New Jersey whether sports betting should be legal. Bigger meaning? The feds really can’t dictate much to the states unless the Constitution specifically deals with it. Marijuana immediately comes to mind. Sanctuary cities is mentioned by SCOTUSblog. Think of an issue that the feds dictate, and it’s probably now an issue that states can challenge. Who knows where this could lead.

11) Just dawned on me: I feel bad for bookies. They’re going to have to get jobs like the rest of us schnooks.

12) This column will appear online sometime Monday but won’t be in the paper until Tuesday, so you’ll be able to use the advice contained herein and check it in print tomorrow: I love the over (9) in the A’s-Red Sox game. Warm night, wind blowing out,, and Sean Manea’s BABIP is .186. Regression is coming. Red Sox might get to nine runs all by themselves. And while Porcello is pitching out of his mind right now (and the advanced stats aren’t pointing to any meaningful issues) the A’s are 5th in road OPS, 5th in road wOBA. To compare, they’re 16th in both categories at home. They should be able to score a few runs without much issue. And by the way: The Red Sox are 1st in both categories and home, though they’re surprisingly weak against lefties so far this year. I suppose that gives me some pause, but I expect positive regression on that score considering the lineup features a bevy of righthanded lefty mashers.

13) Can you guys do me a favor and not tell my wife sports betting is legalized now? She’s not thrilled with the daily fantasy sports stuff as it is, although it’s worth noting I’m up over $3,000 since I started. Just needed to throw that in there.