BIRMINGHAM, AL (WIAT)  The big game, the game of the century, Alabama and LSU, created any number of heart stopping moments for those who didn't even make it to the game.  That is, for the many who had money riding on the game all across the country.

Las Vegas experts we talked to say the game brought in the biggest single waging numbers for a college football game, ever.  Kip Keefer from the Birmingham Race Course says, "it's kind of the dirty little secret, the elephant in the room, so to speak."  And he's not talking about Alabama's mascot!   Keefer says this activity is already taking place.  "You're not preventing sports betting by not legalizing it.  And not letting the state tax it and regulate it.  You're really driving it to illegal sources." Keefer is convinced that 25 to 50 million dollars a week minimal is bet in Alabama on sports, football predominantly."  Sports fan Dan Burnett thinks,  "legalizing it would help the economy, the county and state at a time when revenue is needed". He's not alone.  Sports enthusiast, Ben McMurray says probably 90 percent of his friends bet every weekend. "They have multiple bookies." 

Sports betting, particularly in Alabama is big money and big news.  Keefer says in a survey in Sports Business Journal, "Birmingham, AL was identified as the number one illegal sports betting market per capita in the country." 

Keefer says he's convinced all of us could point to someone who can't watch a game unless they have a bet on it.  "That's how you get the extra adrenaline rush, that extra kick out of it."  Burnett agrees. "You have all the top high school kids all over the country all in one stadium.  What better adrenaline rush than to put money on these kids and let it play out, baby!"

Birmingham Attorney Lance Bell says the football pool you have going on in the office is theoretically a misdemeanor.  However,

Too bad, it's not a victimless game.