Danny Ainge Opposed To Legalized Sports Betting
BOSTON (CBS) - NBA commissioner Adam Silver is a proponent of legalized sports betting. Celtics president Danny Ainge is not.
In a November 2014 edition of the New York Times, Silver penned an op ed in support of lifting the legislative bans on sports gambling, and expressed his desire to forge an open conversation with the commissioners of other pro leagues on this matter. Legalized sports betting nationwide, Silver argues, would crush the black market and aid states in their efforts to generate more revenue.
"I believe that sports betting should be brought out of the underground and into the sunlight where it can be appropriately monitored and regulated," Silver wrote.
With Adam Silver in town, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich decided to ask Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for his take.
"I don't [support it], but I would like to hear what Adam has to say about it, and really understand where he's coming from and his perspective. Just off the top of my head, I do not [support it]," Ainge said.
Ainge, a practicing Mormon, explains he's seen too many lives ruined to be in favor of such a measure.
"I've seen gambling ruin lives and ruin families. I'm just not for it. I wish they wouldn't do it," Ainge added.
Rich compared gambling to alcohol, and how moderation is the key. Just because some people can't handle it, Rich argues, doesn't mean you should punish those who can.
Ainge's response:
"I understand. I just think the same thing with alcohol; there's a lot of deaths that happen as a result to innocent people. I'm not so sure that those things are beneficial to our society and necessary for the game, but again, I'm open minded. I'd like to listen to what Adam has to say about the issue. But you asked me my opinion, and I prefer we not have things that are destructive to society."
Listen below (gambling question starts at 7:30):