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Bets on Nevada teams urged
State officials adopt a novel strategy to combat proposed
anti-gambling legislation in Congress.
By Steve Carp
Review-Journal
What was once considered taboo in Nevada sports books may
become as common as a half-point parlay card if the state's politicians
have their way.
With the heat being turned up in Washington by those seeking
passage of a bill that would ban legalized betting on college sports in
Nevada, some Nevada politicians say that allowing betting on
Nevada-based teams would defuse talk that the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno receive special protection
while the rest of the NCAA's Division I teams are fair game for bettors.
The talk about putting Nevada schools up on the betting boards is
part of the strategy to deflect one of the chief arguments used by
sponsors of the betting ban bills in Congress. Nevada politicians believe
that if Nevada's schools fall under the same guidelines in its sports books
as the rest of the NCAA's teams, there would be no special treatment.
"We're looking at this regardless of the outcome," said Brian
Sandoval, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, referring to the
bills in Congress. "We have complete confidence in our regulatory
apparatus, and our coaches should have the same confidence in our
ability to police the sports wagering industry."
According to Sandoval, any proposed changes wouldn't be
introduced until the fall at the earliest. The Gaming Control Board would
hold hearings on the matter and recommend whether to lift the ban on
booking bets on UNLV and UNR. The Nevada Gaming Commission
would have the final say.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is spearheading efforts to fight the
proposed anti-gambling legislation authored by Sen. Sam Brownback,
R-Kan., and backed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., supports any
proposed measure to have legal betting on Nevada schools, saying the
current law is outdated. Legal bets on Nevada schools last occurred in
the 1950s.
Gov. Kenny Guinn said that if it will help stave off passage of the
betting ban bill, he would support a measure to allow legalized betting on
state schools in the sports books.
"It is appropriate to review Nevada regulations governing legal
wagering on college sports," Guinn said Thursday in a prepared
statement. "In the current political debate, those who are unfairly targeting
Nevada's gaming industry are using this issue to deflect away from the
NCAA's failure to adequately address illegal wagering on university and
college campuses.
"I can support lifting the ban because of my trust in the integrity of
Nevada's regulatory agencies which provide a worldwide model for
gaming regulation."
State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said he'd like to see the
Legislature have input before any changes are made.
"This is a critical issue," Neal said. "The people should have some
input, not just the gamers and the commission.
"You don't want anything to taint the image of sports in this state."
UNLV President Carol Harter was on vacation and unavailable for
comment. But Athletics Director Charles Cavagnaro sees what's going
on.
"Clearly, it's part of the strategy," Cavagnaro said. "It's certainly a
change in what has been a time-honored tradition."
But UNLV head basketball coach Bill Bayno is adamantly opposed
to betting on his team's games.
"That would be bad," he said. "We're different from everyone else
because we're in the town where the betting in legal. We're more
vulnerable."
Bayno said his players are barred from visitingsports books. A
UNLV player, coach or member of the athletics department found
betting on a basketball, football, baseball or hockey game would be
expelled. UNLV's athletes are briefed by the FBI before every season
and notified of what's off-limits.
But UNR basketball coach Trent Johnson isn't concerned.
"I don't think it'll impact my program one way or the other," Johnson
said. "People are going to bet regardless.
"If you're the head coach and you've got control of your kids, you
won't have anything to worry about."
UNLV football coach John Robinson, who coached at the University
of Southern California, is well aware of the presence of gambling. But he
doesn't see it as an issue for his players as much as he does for himself.
"You don't want to be aware of the point spread as a coach,"
Robinson said. "I remember we were in the Rose Bowl and we were
six-point favorites and we were up by one and we had the ball on the
1-yard-line, and we took a knee on the final play of the game instead of
going in to score.
"I went to the Hula Bowl afterward and when I got back, there must
have been 500 letters about not covering the spread."
As for his players, Robinson said the rules are clear.
"Our kids know if they go into a sports book and bet on a game,
their career here would be over," he said. "The casino people are most
diligent in making sure our players aren't around the sports books, and if
they were, they'd quickly let us know about it."
Cavagnaro said the perception of having Nevadans bet legally on
their own schools is worse than the reality.
"Our proximity to betting is the concern," he said. "Up to this point, it
has been comforting to know that rule is in place. But if they decided to
change it and allow betting (on UNLV), we would have to be more
diligent about where our players go and where they're seen."
Cavagnaro pointed out the watchdog mentality the sports books have
in their industry helps reduce the chances of unusual, one-sided wagering
on a game.
"I'd like to think the casinos would monitor us like they do everyone
else," he said.
Nevada sports books have proliferated despite the absence of
betting on the home teams to this point.
"This is not a major issue economically for the sports books," said
Alan Feldman, vice president for public affairs for MGM Mirage.
"What I appreciate from the governor and others is the symbolism of
the effort," Feldman said.
State officials adopt a novel strategy to combat proposed
anti-gambling legislation in Congress.
By Steve Carp
Review-Journal
What was once considered taboo in Nevada sports books may
become as common as a half-point parlay card if the state's politicians
have their way.
With the heat being turned up in Washington by those seeking
passage of a bill that would ban legalized betting on college sports in
Nevada, some Nevada politicians say that allowing betting on
Nevada-based teams would defuse talk that the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno receive special protection
while the rest of the NCAA's Division I teams are fair game for bettors.
The talk about putting Nevada schools up on the betting boards is
part of the strategy to deflect one of the chief arguments used by
sponsors of the betting ban bills in Congress. Nevada politicians believe
that if Nevada's schools fall under the same guidelines in its sports books
as the rest of the NCAA's teams, there would be no special treatment.
"We're looking at this regardless of the outcome," said Brian
Sandoval, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, referring to the
bills in Congress. "We have complete confidence in our regulatory
apparatus, and our coaches should have the same confidence in our
ability to police the sports wagering industry."
According to Sandoval, any proposed changes wouldn't be
introduced until the fall at the earliest. The Gaming Control Board would
hold hearings on the matter and recommend whether to lift the ban on
booking bets on UNLV and UNR. The Nevada Gaming Commission
would have the final say.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is spearheading efforts to fight the
proposed anti-gambling legislation authored by Sen. Sam Brownback,
R-Kan., and backed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., supports any
proposed measure to have legal betting on Nevada schools, saying the
current law is outdated. Legal bets on Nevada schools last occurred in
the 1950s.
Gov. Kenny Guinn said that if it will help stave off passage of the
betting ban bill, he would support a measure to allow legalized betting on
state schools in the sports books.
"It is appropriate to review Nevada regulations governing legal
wagering on college sports," Guinn said Thursday in a prepared
statement. "In the current political debate, those who are unfairly targeting
Nevada's gaming industry are using this issue to deflect away from the
NCAA's failure to adequately address illegal wagering on university and
college campuses.
"I can support lifting the ban because of my trust in the integrity of
Nevada's regulatory agencies which provide a worldwide model for
gaming regulation."
State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said he'd like to see the
Legislature have input before any changes are made.
"This is a critical issue," Neal said. "The people should have some
input, not just the gamers and the commission.
"You don't want anything to taint the image of sports in this state."
UNLV President Carol Harter was on vacation and unavailable for
comment. But Athletics Director Charles Cavagnaro sees what's going
on.
"Clearly, it's part of the strategy," Cavagnaro said. "It's certainly a
change in what has been a time-honored tradition."
But UNLV head basketball coach Bill Bayno is adamantly opposed
to betting on his team's games.
"That would be bad," he said. "We're different from everyone else
because we're in the town where the betting in legal. We're more
vulnerable."
Bayno said his players are barred from visitingsports books. A
UNLV player, coach or member of the athletics department found
betting on a basketball, football, baseball or hockey game would be
expelled. UNLV's athletes are briefed by the FBI before every season
and notified of what's off-limits.
But UNR basketball coach Trent Johnson isn't concerned.
"I don't think it'll impact my program one way or the other," Johnson
said. "People are going to bet regardless.
"If you're the head coach and you've got control of your kids, you
won't have anything to worry about."
UNLV football coach John Robinson, who coached at the University
of Southern California, is well aware of the presence of gambling. But he
doesn't see it as an issue for his players as much as he does for himself.
"You don't want to be aware of the point spread as a coach,"
Robinson said. "I remember we were in the Rose Bowl and we were
six-point favorites and we were up by one and we had the ball on the
1-yard-line, and we took a knee on the final play of the game instead of
going in to score.
"I went to the Hula Bowl afterward and when I got back, there must
have been 500 letters about not covering the spread."
As for his players, Robinson said the rules are clear.
"Our kids know if they go into a sports book and bet on a game,
their career here would be over," he said. "The casino people are most
diligent in making sure our players aren't around the sports books, and if
they were, they'd quickly let us know about it."
Cavagnaro said the perception of having Nevadans bet legally on
their own schools is worse than the reality.
"Our proximity to betting is the concern," he said. "Up to this point, it
has been comforting to know that rule is in place. But if they decided to
change it and allow betting (on UNLV), we would have to be more
diligent about where our players go and where they're seen."
Cavagnaro pointed out the watchdog mentality the sports books have
in their industry helps reduce the chances of unusual, one-sided wagering
on a game.
"I'd like to think the casinos would monitor us like they do everyone
else," he said.
Nevada sports books have proliferated despite the absence of
betting on the home teams to this point.
"This is not a major issue economically for the sports books," said
Alan Feldman, vice president for public affairs for MGM Mirage.
"What I appreciate from the governor and others is the symbolism of
the effort," Feldman said.