Super Bowl time! Who do you have in the pool? Only a few more hours to get in! Office betting pools sound like good, clean American fun, but are they actually illegal gambling? Experts say yes.
With Super Bowl XLII this Sunday and March Madness right around the corner, it’s a busy time for the sports-minded employees who organize “friendly” betting pools.
And what’s wrong with that, many ask? “Sports are a huge part of American culture and can bring fun and camaraderie to the workplace,” says Laura Raimes, blogging on ajcjobs.com.
Unfortunately, those pools probably violate your work rules if you have a gambling policy (we’ll cover that in tomorrow’s Advisor) and are very likely unlawful under state statutes. So how do you handle this seemingly innocent bit of fun?
Illegal Pools
For the legal perspective, Raines quotes Atlanta attorney John Monroe from Ford & Harrison: “From a legal standpoint, companies should prohibit and not allow gambling to occur because it’s a misdemeanor [in Georgia],” Monroe says.
If you have a gambling policy on your books, he says, don’t ignore it. If you don’t enforce it, employees may then argue that your company is selective in which policies it enforces. And that spells legal problems down the road in trying to enforce any policy.
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Practically speaking, though, Monroe admits that many companies do have informal pools. He advises employers to keep the pools infrequent, small, and with small winnings. A few people putting in a dollar to bet on football’s “Big Game” or the U.S. Open is one thing, he says; 25 people betting $100 each on every sports event that comes along is quite another.
Beyond Illegality
Illegality might be the strongest reason for a gambling policy, but it’s not the only one. Consider the following issues advanced by Raines:
Lost productivity. Some experts have estimated productivity losses in the billions of dollars as a result of time lost participating in betting pools.
Pressure to participate. Pool pressure can be a problem for employees who do not wish to participate or who are financially unable to.
Offer Alternatives
So that HR people who ban gambling pools don’t seem like curmudgeons, Raines offers several alternatives:
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Most Popular Office Betting Subjects
What are the most popular betting pool topics after sports? The topics can get both strange and personal. Some surveys have shown that among the most popular are:
In the next issue of the Advisor, we will cover specifics of gambling policies and present a new tool that helps with all key policies.