Steem, Fantasy sports, and Escrows

As a new member of the steemit world, I find what's going on here utterly fascinating and completely progressive. The usages of blockchain technology seem endless. It's like we are just scratching the surface of where this technology will ultimately go.

Having worked in the gambling and sports gambling industries it doesn't surprise me that my mind immediately jumps to thoughts of where and how cryptocurrency and a blockchain community like Steemit can be used in the gambling and sports gambling universe.

What is brilliant about having such a community is that everyone, by virtue of the Steem currency, is a living, breathing, communicating wallet of value. Unlike other parts of the internet, people cannot transfer funds to one another as instantaneously as they do and can in the steem world.

Imagine the possibilities of making wagers within this network. Take fantasy football for example. Integrating software such as Yahoo sports' platform, the participants who play currently only have two options for participation and payment. Either give cash to the commissioner of the league in person  or send an email transfer. Anyone who's been in a league or run one knows the hassles and burden of having to collect from everyone. And then, once the season ends and winners are crowned, the payments have to be sent back from the commish to the players.

With a network like Steemit, all participants could autmatically submit their currency of choice (Steem, power, or sbd) and then, as the escrow is programmed, it sends out payments automatically at season's end.
Simpler yet, peer2peer bets. You offer a bet publicly on literally anything. Set a line. Anyone can accept or counter. Once accepted, terms and values are agreed upon. The currency goes into a Steem escrow and paid to the winner upon conclusion of the event.

The implications of this branch out much further. Steemit could even run a lottery. Or build its own internal casino.

The possibilites are limitless, just like the blockchain.
The gambler in me can feel the itch and i can't wait to scratch it.

Love this place!