Editorial: Sports bet ban isn't credible

Overall the National Gambling Impact Study Commission has dismissed unrealistic policy recommendations, but on Monday the panel embraced a Pollyannaish proposal, calling for an abolition of gambling on college sports. Advocates of a prohibition contend that the integrity of college athletics is jeopardized by gambling, noting that the commission was informed in a November meeting that it is easy for students to find illegal bookies on campus. But the commission's solution, which was passed 5-3, doesn't acknowledge some basic realities.

Congress already has banned sports betting, granting exemptions for just three states: Nevada, Oregon and Delaware. In addition to this sweeping curtailment, the amount wagered legally on sporting events is dwarfed by illegal bets. In Nevada $2.3 billion was wagered legally in 1998, while estimates for illegal betting in the United States range from $80 billion to $380 billion every year.

It is obvious, then, that placing such a ban in Nevada isn't going to make a dent at all in the proliferation of gambling on collegiate sports. What would happen is that sports wagering that is now done legally would instead go underground.

In addition, prohibition proponents ignore the fact that regulated sports wagering does pay dividends. State Gaming Control Board Chairman Steve DuCharme told the Sun that regulators in Nevada uncovered one college-betting scandal, a point-shaving scheme at Arizona State University, after illegal betting patterns were traced at Las Vegas sports books. Since a legal sports book has a privileged license it is in its interest to make sure its operation is clean. "Do you think Charlie the bookie is going to call the government if he gets wind that there's something irregular going on with a game?" Rob Terry, Palace Station's race and sports director, noted.

If the commission is to have its report taken seriously by Congress and the states, it should present proposals that are grounded in reality and don't sound as if they're coming from an ivory tower. Better regulation of gambling, not prohibition, should be the commission's focus as it finishes its investigation of the social and economic impact of gambling.

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