Sen. John McCain?s efforts to ban wagering on NCAA games appears to have hit a wall. In the Senate, a bill to ban Nevada college sports betting barely made it out of committee but is unlikely to be taken up in the full Senate primarily because of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. Reid opposes the bill and as assistant majority leader and Democratic whip, he has the power to keep the bill off the floor. However McCain?s supporter?s state the campaign has merely stalled and not died. They further contend a ban of college sports betting in Nevada, the only state where it is legal would put a dent in illegal college sports wagering by eliminating "tout services" that publish point spreads and other information essential to illegal bookmaking. Additionally, closing Nevada college sports books would eliminate teen-agers as a source of income for the professional gambling industry.
There was a lot of behind the scenes activity with players being lectured by FBI agents, compelled to sign affidavits declaring they won't talk to bookies and shown videos warning of harsh penalties athletes and college students face for point shaving or other gambling activity.
It would appear that McCain and his supporters are uneducated in the world of sports betting. Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, "Anyone who thinks closing the Nevada books will stop Americans from betting on sports is naive," Fahrenkopf said. ?The problem with college sports betting isn't in Las Vegas.? It is on college campuses where students and athletes succumb to the lure of illegal betting, he said. It would appear that some colleges agree with Fahrenkopf. Florida State athletic director Dave Hart said, "You can't pretend that (gambling) doesn't exist here. It's on every campus in the country."
Betting ban supporters argue the task is difficult because they are up against a powerful industry that makes generous campaign contributions to influence key lawmakers. The gambling industry gave $7.6 million in large contributions, often dubbed "soft money," to the national political parties in the last election cycle, almost double what the industry gave in the previous election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Ironically they also report McCain has accepted campaign donations from the gambling industry totaling $159,530 since the 1992 campaign cycle.
There was a lot of behind the scenes activity with players being lectured by FBI agents, compelled to sign affidavits declaring they won't talk to bookies and shown videos warning of harsh penalties athletes and college students face for point shaving or other gambling activity.
It would appear that McCain and his supporters are uneducated in the world of sports betting. Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, "Anyone who thinks closing the Nevada books will stop Americans from betting on sports is naive," Fahrenkopf said. ?The problem with college sports betting isn't in Las Vegas.? It is on college campuses where students and athletes succumb to the lure of illegal betting, he said. It would appear that some colleges agree with Fahrenkopf. Florida State athletic director Dave Hart said, "You can't pretend that (gambling) doesn't exist here. It's on every campus in the country."
Betting ban supporters argue the task is difficult because they are up against a powerful industry that makes generous campaign contributions to influence key lawmakers. The gambling industry gave $7.6 million in large contributions, often dubbed "soft money," to the national political parties in the last election cycle, almost double what the industry gave in the previous election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Ironically they also report McCain has accepted campaign donations from the gambling industry totaling $159,530 since the 1992 campaign cycle.
