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More schools turning to gambling advertising

PORTLAND, Oregon -- As reported by The Oregonian: "College sports' governing body delivered a mandate and dug in its heels: Oregon must abolish lottery-run sports betting or the state would never again host the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

"So in 2005, the Oregon Legislature killed the lottery's sports games. With the state seemingly scrubbed of its wagering stain, the NCAA named the Rose Garden a tournament site for this March.

"Yet in the 26 years the tournament was away, legal gambling has exploded in Oregon and nationwide. Proceeds from lotteries are stitched into state budgets, and advertisements for casinos peer down from billboards, fill magazines and flash across local TV.

"Although the NCAA still bans lottery and casino advertising in connection with its championships, university athletic departments are embracing the once-taboo ads as never before. The move -- not the first-round games that begin in Portland on March 19 -- is the real big dance: college sports' efforts to capitalize on gambling's marketing dollars while distancing themselves from its downside.

"Seven of the Pacific-10 Conference's 10 schools now take casino and/or lottery advertising. Oregon and Oregon State have multiyear marketing agreements with two local casinos that include rights to advertise in the schools' football, basketball and baseball venues.

"Last year the University of New Mexico signed a five-year, $2.5million deal with a casino, the largest sponsorship in the history of its athletic department.

"A rising number of other sports programs nationwide have sponsorships with casinos, the state lottery or both..."

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