gambling question

ok, all the recent hub bub about Riley's crusade against bingo got me curious about what the gambling laws are in alabama. I got a question for folks more law literate than me. how is Riley betting with Floridas governor on a football game as seen here not illegal according to the law below? http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/12/governor_riley_places_bet_with.html


Section 13A-12-21
Simple gambling.
(a) A person commits the crime of simple gambling if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player.

where gambling is defined as:
(4) GAMBLING . A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.

just curious as I ..... know someone.... who sometimes plays in the office football and basketball pools and became curious if hundreds of state troopers are coming to his house at 2 in the morning as the next part of the witch hunt.

this should explain it

Is participating in the stock market not also gambling? Do we all not gamble our money in investments? I for one wish Alabama would at least get a lottery and start contributing to our Education. I also enjoy a trip to the casinos every once in a while so I wouldn't mind letting the people of Alabama vote on that as well. The people that like to go to the casinos are simple heading to Mississippi when they want to. Just my opinion and if the people of Alabama voted NO to all forms of gambling, I could live with that too.

oldHelena wrote:Is participating in the stock market not also gambling? Do we all not gamble our money in investments?

Simple answer... NO. If you don't get it at your age then it's not going to help for me to explain it on some message board.

I'm sory i'm so stupud snoopy.

Snoopy wrote:

oldHelena wrote:Is participating in the stock market not also gambling? Do we all not gamble our money in investments?

Simple answer... NO. If you don't get it at your age then it's not going to help for me to explain it on some message board.

in a common sense way I agree with you. the way our laws are written, they aren't as different as you would think. our laws basically say that any game luck plays a material role in regardless of the skill that is involved is gambling. I guess that stock is based on company ownership rather than a game still separates them though.

I'd love for any politician or pastor that says gambling is based on luck to sit down across from phil ivey with their own money though and see how long it took them to change their mind.

btw, that clip is hilarious