As we enter the second day of the NCAA tournament, offices around the country are buzzing with excitement over who is winning the NCAA office pool.  While it is still way too early to have a clear front runner in your pool (even if they were smart enough to pick Cal and Oregon, both 12 seeds, to win like we did), many of us will spend way too much time checking scores and streaming games live during the workday.  In fact, according to a recent story on a Fox station out of Tulsa, Oklahoma yesterday, it is estimated that employees will spend 1-3 hours a day focus not on work, but on the NCAA tournament.  That equates to an estimated $1.8 billion dollars in productivity each year.  That doesn’t even include the increases in sick days.

There is one element of March Madness and our office pools that many of us never seem to think about…the legality of them.  A story out of Kearny Mesa, California yesterday addressed this very issue.  Many people don’t realize that office pools in some states are actually illegal forms of betting.  For example, in California, it is technically illegal to have an office pool.  According to the San Diego Police Department, an offender can be fined up to $250 (this wouldn’t of course be a charge that would require needing a bail bond).  When asked if this is something that the police pursue…the answer was not really.  They only really go after it if there are substantial complaints.
So breathe a little easier sports betters, it looks like you are in the clear for now.  So keep on extending those long lunches and hitting the “boss” button on your CBS Sports website live stream, because as long as your pool is under $2500, than you probably won’t do any jail time.  Read the original article below.

Original article: March Madness wagers could land you in jail, but will they?

Written by: Eric Granof