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College Betting Ban Appears Dead in Senate18 March 2002WASHINGTON, D.C. – As reported by the Indianapolis Star: "U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was getting ready to trot out a bill to ban betting on college sports in Nevada during last year's NCAA basketball tournament -- legislation that many had expected to race through Congress. "A year later, the bill has run out of gas. "…Much has changed in the year since McCain and Reps. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Tim Roemer, D-Ind., introduced legislation that would have stripped Nevada of its ability to accept betting on college sports. "Terrorists crashed planes Sept. 11 into the World Trade Center and control of the Senate changed last summer, elevating Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to majority whip. McCain has his hands full trying to pass campaign finance reform and raise mileage requirements for U.S. cars. "Congress has had only one hearing this year on college sports and betting. "…That step appeared likely a year ago as the NCAA, lawmakers and many well-known coaches, including former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, made an aggressive push to outlaw betting on amateur sports in Nevada. They said Nevada's ability to allow casinos to take college sports bets not only sends the wrong signals to athletes that gambling is OK but offers illegal bookies a place to hedge their bets. "…Many senators agreed with Nevada lawmakers that the bigger problem was that most gambling on college sports takes place illegally in workplaces, on college campuses or through bookies. Since May, the bill has not come to the Senate floor for a vote…" |