Sports betting has taken place for nearly 100 years in the Mahoning Valley, with some of the first recorded arrests for illegal gambling happening in 1926 in Youngstown.

That same year, Harold Williams sued eight gamblers to recover $31,000, which would equal more than $450,000 at today's value, which led to three Niles men being indicted in the Williams case. Wiliams eventually pleaded guilty to embezzling $30,000 of Dollar Bank funds and was sentenced to prison for one to ten years.

Illegal sports betting takes place throughout Ohio, however, sports betting supporters are hoping to regain interest in a long-stalled Ohio legalization proposal, and many Ohio Senate and House members are hoping they can help finally pass legislation that has lingered in the legislature for years.

31 states, including Pennsylvania, already allow or are working on introducing sports betting in the US.

In tonight's live video podcast, long-time journalist and host of tonight's podcast, Bertram de Souza, along with 21 News Sports Director Dana Balash; Greg Gulas, long associated with Youngstown State University's athletic department; and Rob Potesta, veteran radio sports show host, who will share their opinions of and insights into Ohio's entry into the ever-growing world of sports betting.

The podcast will be live-streamed on WFMJ.com and on de Souza's YouTube and Facebook pages beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7.

In the second half of the program, viewers can call in or text by downloading and using the free Discord app from your cell phone, computer or tablet devices. Instructions for downloading the app can be found on de Souza's Facebook page. If you would like to ask a question or share your opinion, click on this Discord link: https://discord.gg/wpAphBDR

Viewers can also or email questions and comments to [email protected] or comment on de Souza's Facebook page.