CG2FF: Part II - To Pay or Not To Pay

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This is Part 2 of a 5-part series, The Christian’s Guide to Fantasy Football.

Here’s Part I.

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Part II - To Pay or Not To Pay

In Part 1 we talked about why playing Fantasy Football is something every sports fan should do. In Part II, we’re going to look at one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make as a Christian when choosing a fantasy league: whether or not you’ll be playing for money.

Gambling is one of those issues that seems to divide Christians like Moses divided the Scarlet Lake. There are Christians who think gambling is always wrong, and as such would never play a game when prize money is at stake. On the flip side, there are also Christians who love gambling as much as they love their own families, and would never consider doing anything unless there was some cash on the line. (”Hey honey, I’ll bet you five bucks I can take the trash out in 60 seconds or less.”)

Personally, I fall into the gray area in the middle that says that there’s nothing wrong with placing friendly wagers here and there, as long as it is done with moderation and wisdom (you can read more of my thoughts on gambling, specifically on playing poker for money, here if you like). If you feel the same way I do about gambling, then throwing a few bucks into a pot for the winner of your league is a fun way to keep everyone involved.

Entry Fees

Fantasy league entry fees typically fall somewhere between ten and fifty dollars to join, with the prize money either going all to the winner or split between the top 3. For the record, I suggest paying out for first, second, and third place. There’s nothing worse than losing in the fantasy championships because LaDanian Tomlinson was taken out of the game after the first series, leaving you with a second place finish and NO MONEY. At least if they pay out a second place prize you can take the few bucks you’ve won and buy yourself something that will make you feel happy. Like a margarita, a gallon of ice cream, or a life.

Some leagues might also pay out to the guy who came in last place, giving him his entry fee back as a way of helping him restore his dignity. Other leagues will make the last place finisher buy all the snacks for next year’s draft. One thing you’ll never find is a league that pays out all the money to the guy who finishes last. (But if you ever hear of such a league, please let me join know so I can join it and dominate it for the rest of my life.)

There is a Reason

If you’re unsure as to whether or not you want to play fantasy sports with some of your hard-earned money on the line, consider the following reasons I’ve compiled for and against gambling. While these are not hard and fast rules to live by, they should help you figure out whether playing for money is right for you.

Reasons not to play for money:

• You have a strong conviction against it.
• You struggle with a gambling addiction.
• You are a coach in a professional sports league.
• You know nothing about sports.
• You have no money.
• You are incarcerated.
• The entry fee for your league is $75,000 dollars.
• You haven’t had gainful employment in 3 years.
• You play Dungeons and Dragons.
• You prayed about it and an audible voice came down from heaven saying, “Hey. This is God. Don’t gamble.”

Reasons to go ahead and play for money:

• It keeps you interested in football for the entire season.
• You view the entry fee as an entertainment expense, like buying movie tickets or a new CD.
• You found fifty bucks on your way to the draft.
• Your league’s entry fee is $1.00.
• Winning fantasy sports leagues is your sole source of income.
• You will donate all of your winnings to your church’s new building fund.
• You plan on colluding with other owners to cheat your way to a championship.
• You are the commissioner of your league and can modify the scoring rules during the season to your advantage.
• The other owners in your league have a combined IQ of 67.
• You prayed about it and an audible voice came down from heaven saying, “Hey. This is God. Let it Ride!”

In the end if you find yourself agonizing over whether or not you should play for money, the best thing to do is to go to a casino, hit up the roulette wheel, and put $100 on black. If it lands on black, you just made $100! Congratulations, go spend it on your fantasy league (after you tithe 10% of course). After all, it’s house money you’re playing with.

What if it lands on red, you ask? Well, then you’re out $100, and you should probably try and win it back.And really, there’s no better way to do that then playing fantasy football for money. So go ahead and ante up!

You should also get out of that casino immediately, as it’s no place for someone like you to be hanging around.

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(to keep reading) - Part III - The Art of Naming

(The preceding may or may not be included in Bryan’s book-in-progress, “Let There Be Touchdowns: Why God is a Sports Fan and Why You Should Be Too”. If you’d like to stay current on what’s happening with the book, leave your name and email address here.)

As always, feedback, props, criticisms, and comments are strongly encouraged. Italics: the new bold, no?

Tags: Christian's Guide To Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football, gambling