Comfort owed a lot of money to illegal bookmakers who were threatening his life.

But illegal bookmakers take only 4.55 percent on sports bets ($1 out of every $22 they handle).

These spreads - the number of points a favorite is expected to win by -are also used across the country by illegal bookmakers.

And almost all of it is invested in violation of state gambling laws, whether through illegal bookmakers or office pools.

He was an illegal bookmaker and petty criminal.

People are more comfortable with us than with the illegal bookmakers.

Advocates of American sports betting point out that in this country, that money instead go straight into the hands of illegal bookmakers.

In sports betting, gamblers usually pay a 10 percent commission whether they are betting with legal or illegal bookmakers.

So what the commission is doing is driving you into the arms of the illegal bookmakers.

Once the gambler becomes somewhat knowledgeable, he'll realize there's a better game down the street with the illegal bookmaker.