TOURNAMENT: Gambling concerns NCAA

[Louis Cypher]

By STEVE WIEBERG, USA TODAY


Still sobered by a 3-year-old study of college athletes' betting habits, the NCAA is stepping up anti-gambling efforts during its men's and women's basketball tournaments.

FBI-assisted educational sessions for tournament teams will be quadrupled. Previously reserved for Final Four participants, they'll be held this month for the 16 men's and 16 women's teams reaching regional semifinals.

And for the first time, the NCAA will station a representative in Las Vegas during the tournaments' first and second rounds to monitor bookmaking and other betting activities.

"The same thing I've heard over and over from these folks," says Rachel Newman-Baker, NCAA director of agents, gambling and amateurism activities, "is, "Come out here. Come watch what takes place during the tournament. Come see what happens in the sports books. Sit down with our sports book folks just so you get that firsthand knowledge of the atmosphere and what's going on.'

"Since this is our first year, it's going to be a lot of observing and hopefully reaching out and making more contacts."

NCAA concerns have been heightened since a 2003 study found more than one in three male college athletes, and one in 10 females, had engaged in some type of sports wagering in violation of association rules. Almost 4 ½ percent of the men's basketball players and nearly 5 percent of the football players surveyed _ a total of 17 in basketball, 102 in football _ said they had taken money for playing poorly, knew of a teammate who did, provided or had been asked to provide inside information about a game or been threatened or harmed because of sports betting.

Background checks on game officials, conducted in basketball for several years, have been expanded to baseball and hockey.

[JoeyrollNy]

Another league that should realize that if it wasn't for gambling nobody would watch their product.

[Louis Cypher]

JoeyrollNY~

How true. I always say that about the NFL but then again, I guess we could say that about all sports and events...well, maybe not.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Have a good one.

LC

[DrunkenGoon]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>

And for the first time, the NCAA will station a representative in Las Vegas during the tournaments' first and second rounds to monitor bookmaking and other betting activities.
</end quote></div>

Sweetest deal in law enforcement?

[GottaWinToday]

A representative to go to Las Vegas and observe and make contacts.....

What bullshlt.....


GottaWinToday

[ronbets]

&lt;&lt;And for the first time, the NCAA will station a representative in Las Vegas during the tournaments' first and second rounds to monitor bookmaking and other betting activities&gt;&gt;

This is some kinda funny. The guy should be directed to the El Cortez late shift. He'll make some fine contacts there. Then conduct a late night exit-poll walking down Fremont St. Odds-on the next night you'd see his picture posted On the Record with Greta with headline "have you seen this missing man in Downtown LV?"