NCAA: Legislate collegiate gambling?

By Sean Rogers Sports Central Columnist

When you think of sports to follow in April and May, you generally don't think college football. With the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as the start of the MLB season, college football is probably the farthest thing from most sports minds. Spring practices are forming, blue-white scrimmages giving media hoards news to scour over, but the most important thing for college football may not be happening on the field this month.

With a plan originally started by Arizona Senator and former Presidential hopeful John McCain several years ago, the most important battle for college football is now being fought in the courts. Senator McCain, with the help of several other U.S. Senators, are proposing legislation that will outlaw gambling on college sports, including NCAA Football. The bill is being heavily debated, but it is clear that the bill should not be passed.

"Why?" you ask. I am not a gambling aficionado; in fact, I am not even old enough to legally gamble. First of all, let's give some background. College gambling is currently only legalized in Nevada, under the Nevada Gaming Commission, which makes Las Vegas the main place to gamble on NCAA sports. However, even though gambling is only legal in Nevada, people can find ways to gamble through bookies on their favorite teams nationally. There have been several point shaving scandals, including one at Notre Dame, which have given NCAA sports gambling a bad name. The legislation is being supported by many NCAA football coaches because of the hope that it would eliminate point-shaving scandals. However, they are merely closing their collective eyes at the bigger problem.

For now, let's imagine that the new legislation is created. Gambling junkies, guys who actually make a living off of betting on college athletics, are suddenly at a loss. So, what do they do? Here's a hint: They won't go work as bag boys at the grocery store. They will continue to gamble, but it will be underground. In many cases, the gambling will come closer to the college campuses. Say a gambler wants to bet on Miami football. Will he stay in Las Vegas to gamble underground, or will he go to Miami to gamble underground? Most likely, he will come closer to Miami, making it easier for him to contact a player who potentially could assist him in shaving a game. At least there will be less gambling and problems near UNLV and the Nevada schools, right? Wrong. With the current laws, it is illegal to bet on Nevada's college sports teams in Nevada. If you can't bet on Nevada sports teams in Nevada, you can't bet on them anywhere, except Antigua or another country!

Result: More gambling on UNLV and other Nevada sports teams. That, combined with the increase in gamblers near players at campuses, makes this an easy law to dismiss.

But, there is more! Let's go back to the point-shaving incidents. In Las Vegas casinos, the NCAA actually employs people to make sure there is nothing fishy going on. If they see a rise on a certain team, they can pull the plug on the game. Done, just like that. If you think about it, the NCAA is actually monitoring the gambling. Barring the unlikely possibility that people will stop gambling when it is not available in casinos, the NCAA will lose this privilege. Result: Even more point shaving scandals. Way to go, NCAA.

Still, the NCAA doesn't have reps in Congress. It could easily be heard, but it's not all the NCAA's fault. Let's think about America. There are taxes on gambling earnings. If it is underground, there will not be taxes on gambling earnings. It is that simple. So, instead of having Uncle Sam pocket a little change from the people who gamble for a living, we will let the government of Antigua prosper. It will not be that significant. Antigua will not replace the U.S. as world power because of it. Still, every little bit helps. Wouldn't George Bush love to give another forty-six cents a year to the richest people in America?

For some problems, there is no true solution. To completely erase the problem of gambling and point-shaving on NCAA football would be impossible. However, to most adequately minimize it, the system should continue as is. Keep an eye on the issue, and let your voice be heard on the message boards.

Article courtesy of Sports Central