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When the Brigham Young University basketball team meets the Running Rebels of UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas February 10, fans will be able to watch the game after placing a legal wager on the game only blocks away.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Nevada betting shops will begin offering action on college athletic events within the state and/or involving state institutions. The Gaming Commission, an appointed oversight body with the power to revoke casino licenses, has unanimously decided to rescind a 1950’s betting ban on competitions involving UNLV orthe University of Nevada, Reno.
The move was not intended to aid sports bettors, or basketball fans or visitors, although the sports books and schools may gain a little extra action during football and basketball seasons. The vote was a calculated response to the NCAA’s call for a ban on all intercollegiate sports betting and the expected reintroduction of Congressional legislation to enforce such a ban on Nevada, the only state that offers legal wagers on individual college events.
Logical politics seems even more of an oxymoron than political logic, but the ruling makes sense for Nevada’s interests. It gains a more consistent position in its campaign for states rights.
A United States Senator, concerned about the “protection” of college students, will no longer be able to ask why Nevada will accept wagers on athletes at Missouri universities but not on those at schools in the Silver State. Nevada’s claim that legal bookmaking is a deterrent to fixed sporting events is also bolstered.
A major Nevada argument for maintaining legal betting is that it can uncover unusual betting patterns that might indicate attempts to fix games. Adding that coverage to local schools certainly makes sense.
“If the line's moving we're going to know about it,” said Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander. “If we think something fishy's going on, we can investigate it. Our athletes in Nevada deserve the same protection. If the only bets on a game are illegal, we won't know if the line's moving suspiciously.”
He did not disclose why so many years passed before this revelation struck the industry. The ban was originally instituted to prevent an unfair advantage for Nevada bettors so close to the action. If anyone was concerned then about the proximity of athletes to betting venues, you will certainly not hear it now from Nevada officials.
The NCAA predictably decried the ruling, which it termed “disappointing.” An official said “there is no place in athletics for sports wagering,” declaring “the NCAA is an educational athletic-based organization and we're fundamentally opposed to any type of sports wagering.”
Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval noted that the NCCA declined invitations to send representatives to five public hearings which preceded the ruling. Did someone mutter “better to curse the darkness than try to light a freaking candle?”
The Gaming Commission took several other actions to head off Congressional criticism. College athletes and coaches are now prohibited from betting on their own games, and sports books are required to take reasonable measures to prevent such action. Books are also ordered to “identify and report any unusual wagers by individuals or groups.” This apparently applies primarily to college kids rushing into town to bet millions against their home team and fixing friends, but its requirement that wagers of $3000 or more be reported might discourage some regular players.
A new category of illegal sports bettors has been added to the infamous Black Book, where some sports fixers can already be found. The commission also reiterated its ban against betting on high school and Olympic athletics.
Banning high school sports betting is understandable, but the Olympic move is simply a public relations ploy, particularly because the 1992 Salt Lake City Olympics will occur in one of the two states that permit no form of legal gambling. The myth of the amateur athlete competing in the pure competitive spirit of the Olympic Games has been destroyed for some time now. But feathers were ruffled in Sydney, when some officials realized athletes could place wagers on themselves or their comrades in legal betting shops, and the Australian authorities readily acknowledged such actions were completely within the law.
High school and Olympic games, however, are only peripheral to the real issue here. In fact, even the public bickering between the NCAA and Nevada is only a side show to the real game. The goal of Nevada is not to convince or even placate the college authorities, but to persuade the US Congress to leave it alone.
The Amateur Sports Protection Act, sounding like it was named from a novel about Chip Hilton or Pollyanna, almost was enacted into law last year. It would have banned betting on all intercollegiate sports, even in states where it has been legal for years. The resolution is certain to be reintroduced again this year.
It could be brought up this month, but bet on its arrival in March, just in time to coincide with the NCAA basketball tournament. Remember this is more about politics than morality and lawmakers appreciate publicity as much as movie stars.
The Gaming Commission moves were intended to deflect criticisms, but Nevada legislators are taking a more active position. While lobbying to keep the bills from Senator John McCain and Representatives Lindsey Graham and Tim Roemer from ever reaching the floor for a vote, they will be offering an alternative bill that will call for a Justice Department investigation into illegal gambling throughout America.
Such an investigation will certainly switch attention away from the legal operations in Nevada. Harry Reid, the senior Senator from the Silver State, suggested the NCAA posturing was a similar diversionary tactic. “We hope the NCAA would be reasonable and they haven’t been in the past. They have many, many problems with amateur athletics in America.” He noted that over 98 percent of betting on college games occurs outside Nevada. “The NCAA should address these problems and leave us alone.”
Representative Shelley Berkley agreed. “The NCAA is the culprit here. We need to focus attention on its lack of responsiveness to illegal sports betting.” Don’t bet on the Final Four being awarded to Las Vegas any time in the near future.
But legal bookmakers will no longer have to worry about Final Four action, even if the UNLV team returns to its glory days. When the Running Rebels were reigning as the number one team in America during the Larry Johnson era, Nevada books lost millions of dollars of action because they were not allowed to post NCAA tournament odds while the Rebels were still competing. That problem no longer exists under the new ruling.
Cynics might point out that an investigation into illegal gambling will not only reduce pressure on Nevada bookmakers, it might put more on their competitors throughout the Americas. Remember that Nevada casinos did not oppose new casinos in other states on moral or legal grounds, but on economic ones. They will find no problem with betting being illegal everywhere throughout the world but their state. It’s nice to be the only game in town, but if you can’t be the only one, be one of the only ones.
As the opposing sides marshal their resources, you can be certain no one is considering the bettor. You can definitely legally bet on Nevada colleges this month, you may not be able to bet on any colleges next year, but you can definitely bet you have not heard the end of this controversy.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Nevada betting shops will begin offering action on college athletic events within the state and/or involving state institutions. The Gaming Commission, an appointed oversight body with the power to revoke casino licenses, has unanimously decided to rescind a 1950’s betting ban on competitions involving UNLV orthe University of Nevada, Reno.
The move was not intended to aid sports bettors, or basketball fans or visitors, although the sports books and schools may gain a little extra action during football and basketball seasons. The vote was a calculated response to the NCAA’s call for a ban on all intercollegiate sports betting and the expected reintroduction of Congressional legislation to enforce such a ban on Nevada, the only state that offers legal wagers on individual college events.
Logical politics seems even more of an oxymoron than political logic, but the ruling makes sense for Nevada’s interests. It gains a more consistent position in its campaign for states rights.
A United States Senator, concerned about the “protection” of college students, will no longer be able to ask why Nevada will accept wagers on athletes at Missouri universities but not on those at schools in the Silver State. Nevada’s claim that legal bookmaking is a deterrent to fixed sporting events is also bolstered.
A major Nevada argument for maintaining legal betting is that it can uncover unusual betting patterns that might indicate attempts to fix games. Adding that coverage to local schools certainly makes sense.
“If the line's moving we're going to know about it,” said Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander. “If we think something fishy's going on, we can investigate it. Our athletes in Nevada deserve the same protection. If the only bets on a game are illegal, we won't know if the line's moving suspiciously.”
He did not disclose why so many years passed before this revelation struck the industry. The ban was originally instituted to prevent an unfair advantage for Nevada bettors so close to the action. If anyone was concerned then about the proximity of athletes to betting venues, you will certainly not hear it now from Nevada officials.
The NCAA predictably decried the ruling, which it termed “disappointing.” An official said “there is no place in athletics for sports wagering,” declaring “the NCAA is an educational athletic-based organization and we're fundamentally opposed to any type of sports wagering.”
Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval noted that the NCCA declined invitations to send representatives to five public hearings which preceded the ruling. Did someone mutter “better to curse the darkness than try to light a freaking candle?”
The Gaming Commission took several other actions to head off Congressional criticism. College athletes and coaches are now prohibited from betting on their own games, and sports books are required to take reasonable measures to prevent such action. Books are also ordered to “identify and report any unusual wagers by individuals or groups.” This apparently applies primarily to college kids rushing into town to bet millions against their home team and fixing friends, but its requirement that wagers of $3000 or more be reported might discourage some regular players.
A new category of illegal sports bettors has been added to the infamous Black Book, where some sports fixers can already be found. The commission also reiterated its ban against betting on high school and Olympic athletics.
Banning high school sports betting is understandable, but the Olympic move is simply a public relations ploy, particularly because the 1992 Salt Lake City Olympics will occur in one of the two states that permit no form of legal gambling. The myth of the amateur athlete competing in the pure competitive spirit of the Olympic Games has been destroyed for some time now. But feathers were ruffled in Sydney, when some officials realized athletes could place wagers on themselves or their comrades in legal betting shops, and the Australian authorities readily acknowledged such actions were completely within the law.
High school and Olympic games, however, are only peripheral to the real issue here. In fact, even the public bickering between the NCAA and Nevada is only a side show to the real game. The goal of Nevada is not to convince or even placate the college authorities, but to persuade the US Congress to leave it alone.
The Amateur Sports Protection Act, sounding like it was named from a novel about Chip Hilton or Pollyanna, almost was enacted into law last year. It would have banned betting on all intercollegiate sports, even in states where it has been legal for years. The resolution is certain to be reintroduced again this year.
It could be brought up this month, but bet on its arrival in March, just in time to coincide with the NCAA basketball tournament. Remember this is more about politics than morality and lawmakers appreciate publicity as much as movie stars.
The Gaming Commission moves were intended to deflect criticisms, but Nevada legislators are taking a more active position. While lobbying to keep the bills from Senator John McCain and Representatives Lindsey Graham and Tim Roemer from ever reaching the floor for a vote, they will be offering an alternative bill that will call for a Justice Department investigation into illegal gambling throughout America.
Such an investigation will certainly switch attention away from the legal operations in Nevada. Harry Reid, the senior Senator from the Silver State, suggested the NCAA posturing was a similar diversionary tactic. “We hope the NCAA would be reasonable and they haven’t been in the past. They have many, many problems with amateur athletics in America.” He noted that over 98 percent of betting on college games occurs outside Nevada. “The NCAA should address these problems and leave us alone.”
Representative Shelley Berkley agreed. “The NCAA is the culprit here. We need to focus attention on its lack of responsiveness to illegal sports betting.” Don’t bet on the Final Four being awarded to Las Vegas any time in the near future.
But legal bookmakers will no longer have to worry about Final Four action, even if the UNLV team returns to its glory days. When the Running Rebels were reigning as the number one team in America during the Larry Johnson era, Nevada books lost millions of dollars of action because they were not allowed to post NCAA tournament odds while the Rebels were still competing. That problem no longer exists under the new ruling.
Cynics might point out that an investigation into illegal gambling will not only reduce pressure on Nevada bookmakers, it might put more on their competitors throughout the Americas. Remember that Nevada casinos did not oppose new casinos in other states on moral or legal grounds, but on economic ones. They will find no problem with betting being illegal everywhere throughout the world but their state. It’s nice to be the only game in town, but if you can’t be the only one, be one of the only ones.
As the opposing sides marshal their resources, you can be certain no one is considering the bettor. You can definitely legally bet on Nevada colleges this month, you may not be able to bet on any colleges next year, but you can definitely bet you have not heard the end of this controversy.