So some people say sports betting is addictive. I say we examine those ‘some people’ and see what they’re addicted too – or should I say, thoroughly enjoy doing. I bet those ‘some people’ indulge in Hannah Montana or chocolate quite a bit -- does that mean they’re addicts too? Very few people are really addicts, but everyone’s got their go-to pleasures that they overuse.

Here’s the top 5 reasons why sports betting isn’t really that addictive:

5. Addictive is like hate – too strong of a word

Do you really hate Paris Hilton? Or cilantro? Or male camel toe? No. It’s more of a ‘dislike/loathe’ type of relationship. ‘Hate,’ like ‘addictive,’ is too strong of a word. So what if some people are obsessive compulsive gamblers? I’ve seen chicks that can’t stop shopping for shoes, or people that pound Chinese food buffets like they are going out of style, or couch potatoes pound a season’s worth of DVDs in one sitting.

‘Addictive’ or ‘obsessive compulsive’ is another way of saying that we do things a lot that we really like. Forgive me for not mixing in things that I don’t like. If I like chocolate ice cream, I’m going to order it. I’m not going to take fliers on Rocky Road or Heavenly Hash. I order – and do – what I like. If that’s what ‘addictive’ means, call me an addict.

4. Losing Money Kills the Addiction

Addiction is really a pain versus pleasure type of equation. Is the pleasure of betting some pesos on the USC-Ohio State game worth the potential pain you might feel if USC doesn’t stomp Ohio State into the ground as you predicted? For most people, losing isn’t fun. So if it continues, most people stop.

Anyone who has half a brain will either do their own research to get their sports knowledge up to speed enough so that they can bet on sports and actually win, or they’ll continue to ask/pay for advice from somebody who does know what’s going on. And if they aren’t smart enough to ask for advice or do their research, then they are probably like that in every aspect of life – not only betting. And that guy is the guy who’s usually buying Russ Dolby’s get-rich-quick schemes at 4:00 AM off television or getting sucked into pyramid schemes.

3. Are you an addict if you’re winning money as a sports bettor?

It’s funny how you can only be a sports betting addict if you lose money. Have you ever seen an example of somebody telling someone else to break their addiction when they are winning money? No. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that in sports, there is only one of two outcomes: one team wins or the other.

That means there’s a 50-50 chance to win every single game whether you know anything about sports or not. To put it simply, if you know a little bit, you should be able to get over 50%, and if you can win some money betting on sports, you’re not an addict.

2. What’s wrong with being an addict?

All smokers know the downside. They’ve seen the ugly pictures on the packs and they’ve memorized the Surgeon General’s warnings. But why do they still smoke? The bottom line is they like it and do what they like. Just because “society” frowns on something, doesn’t mean it’s bad.

So let me get this straight, society: you have no problems with people buying lottery tickets ad nauseam or betting on horses, but betting on sports round-the-year while the sports continually run around the clock is frowned upon?

Suck my addiction, society.

1. What do doctors know?

So some doctors did a study suggesting that sports betting is addictive and we’re just supposed to believe them? What if a doctor told you it was healthy to jump off a bridge?

In all seriousness, I’ll just say this: originally, Viagra was supposed to be a heart medicine. Yada, yada, yada, take the little blue to get going and going for up to 24-48 hours.