Senators to propose ban on gambling on amateur sports
January 26, 2000
Web posted at: 3:35 p.m. EST (2035 GMT)
From Correspondent Kate Snow
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two U.S. senators are expected to
introduce a bill next week that would ban betting on
college and other amateur sports.
In a letter to their colleagues, Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, say their proposed High School and College Gambling
Prohibition Act would protect the integrity of college games and help keep young
people from getting hooked on gambling.
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These students say they have bet more in a week than they pay rent
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The bill also would prohibit all legalized gambling on the Summer and Winter
Olympic Games.
Some critics complain the bill isn't necessary because betting on amateur
athletics currently is only legal in Nevada. But the letter from the senators
notes that even Nevada prohibits gambling on its own teams. They say their
measure will end loopholes in the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection
Act.
"Sports betting puts student athletes in vulnerable positions and threatens their integrity and the integrity of college and Olympic sports," said Leahy in comments faxed to CNN by his office. "A national ban on amateur and college
sports betting may help prevent these ravages of sports wagering."
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American Gaming Association's Frank Fahrenkopf talks to CNN about gambling on college campuses
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Many compulsive gamblers start young
Valerie Lorenz, who treats compulsive gamblers, says gambling
often starts in college.
"It is not at all unusual for a college student, for
instance, to be $10,000 in debt and be a sophomore and be
absolutely terrified and feel this is the end of the world
for them," Lorenz said.
Some students agree.
"In one semester I lost $2,000," said Jeffery Wolinsky, a
senior at the University of Maryland.
Wolinsky said he and his housemates have bet more in a week
than they pay in rent. Interviewed at a bar, he said betting
is easy at local clubs.
"If you came here like on a given night and knew enough
people you could talk your way into finding somebody to bet
with the next day on a college or professional sports game
pretty easily."
NCAA supports legislation
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission, a panel
created by Congress in 1996 to study gambling, estimates that
anywhere from $80 billion to $380 billion is spent each
year on gambling.
In testimony before the commission, National Collegiate
Athletic Association Director Cedric Dempsey said there is
evidence that more money is spent on illegal gambling on
college campuses than on alcohol.
But critics of the Brownback-Leahy bill say it won't stop
gambling on amateur sports.
"What you have is illegal student bookies on every major
college campus in this country taking illegal bets from
students on those campuses on NCAA sanctioned events," said
Frank Fahrenkopf with the American Gaming Association.
The Senate sponsors admit in their letter that the ban won't end betting on
sports, but they say it should end any confusion over whether such betting is
legal.
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