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College Basketball at Connecticut Casino Prompts Criticism1 June 2001MONTVILLE, Connecticut – June 1, 2001 – As reported by the Associated Press: "A new player is muscling into the big-money melee around college basketball: gambling casinos, which want to offer college games as part of their entertainment mix. "The NCAA, which struggles to keep college sports free of sleazy agents, product promotions and gambling, is cool to the idea. "A test case may come at Mohegan Sun, a casino in the southeastern Connecticut woods run by the Mohegan Indian tribe. The casino wants to host college basketball games in its 10,000-seat arena, scheduled to open this fall. "Central Connecticut State University has agreed to play UMass in December, said Central athletic director C.J. Jones. "…Jones said the players won't be exposed to the casino. "…Still, the NCAA prefers that college basketball teams play elsewhere. "…Mohegan Sun officials dispute that college basketball will be tainted if games are played at casino arenas. "`The NCAA is hypocritical,' shot back Paul Munick, vice president of sports and entertainment at Mohegan Sun. `There is gambling in every state. If there were no casinos, period, there would still be gambling on games.' "…People under age 21 are not allowed to gamble in the casinos. The basketball games would attract alumni, parents and sports fans, if not to the casino, then to the restaurants, shows and other attractions Mohegan Sun offers. "…The NCAA is casting a more critical eye on plans to hold college basketball games at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino in Las Vegas, because Nevada is the only state where gambling on college sports is legal…" |