As you see, I've moved to new premises. Out of the comfy old world of conventional sport pages and into this flash, trending, hipster, edgy space. It'll take a little getting used to but the new neighbours seem cool and I could do with a change of scenery.Sports betting is now an irresistible force in both sport and the gambling industry, and the growing army of participants cries out for more info to guide the weekly punt. Here it is.Although sports betting is big business, many people are still confused about what's legal and what isn't in South Africa - thanks to some execrable media coverage of the subject.To clarify: It is verboten to offer casino gambling online or to indulge in it - in other words, roulette, poker and the like are banned. But betting on sporting activity - horse racing, football, rugby, archery, curling and tiddlywinks (maybe) - is perfectly legal. Betting sites are licensed locally to offer you odds on such athletic endeavours.For example, you could have backed Japan to beat the Boks at odds of 500/1, collected your winnings, sans a smidgeon of tax for the poor old Treasury, and been reading this on a beach somewhere.Government stats show that at least half the adults in South Africa gamble regularly - using scratch cards, lottery, casinos or horses - so it's far from the shady, fringe activity some might suggest.Of course, gambling addiction can be a problem for ill-adjusted personalities but it brings so much hope and pleasure to so many people that it would be tyrannical overkill and horribly self-defeating to ban it all.In the US, sports betting is allowed in only three states, which turn over $3-billion a year through legal bookmakers. But about $100-billion is punted illegally on American football alone throughout the country - with all benefits accruing to Jimmy Knuckles on the street corner or websites in other countries. Not a dime in tax to the people.Not for the first time the Yanks prove that prohibition sucks - which is why sports betting is described there as a "hot button issue".Anyway, we're up and flying here.And it's fun. Remember what that was like?So put a spring in your step and check out prospects for the Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein tomorrow.The likely favourite is a creaky old seven-year called Ice Machine who's been galloping like a spring chicken recently. The gelding is raiding upcountry from trainer Charles Laird's Durban base and rates an obvious chance after running a close second to superstar Futura in the Champions Cup a few weeks ago.However, a hard campaign and travel up to Joburg might tell on his age and infirmities, and I'm opting for the young challenger Trip To Heaven, who goes the 1450m journey for the first time but whose breeding suggests he'll handle it with ease...