NCAA players LEGALLY gambling
 

I've posted on this subject before. That most recent being about the WCC hosting their conference tournament at a casino in Vegas.

I have to believe that the NCAA is going to address it by issuing a policy statement or passing an NCAA regulation of some sort in the near future.


Updated: April 3, 2009, 4:34 PM ET
Williams not upset Lawson gambled

<cite class="source">By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
</cite>

DETROIT -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams on Friday defended point guard Ty Lawson, who has been criticized by some here for gambling at a Detroit casino earlier this week.
Lawson told reporters he won $250 playing craps for about an hour in one of Detroit's three downtown casinos early Thursday morning.
On Thursday, NCAA president Myles Brand told reporters he'd prefer that athletes not gamble in the casinos. The NCAA strictly prohibits gambling on college and pro sports.
Williams said he didn't talk to his team about staying out of the casinos before the Tar Heels came to Detroit for this weekend's Final Four. Williams set a 1:30 a.m. curfew for his players Thursday morning.
Williams said Lawson and junior walk-on Marc Campbell were the only UNC players who gambled.
"I talked to them before they left," Williams said Friday. "They're both old enough. It is legal. I find it humorous that somebody would want to ask. It's strange. If we don't want these kids doing it, don't put the Final Four in a city where the casino is 500 yards from our front door."
Williams admitted he gambled in one of the casinos earlier this week, too.
"I have zero problem with Ty doing it," Williams said.
Williams said he gambled in one of the Detroit casinos before the Tar Heels played Michigan State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Ford Field on Dec. 3. Williams lost money at the craps table, but the Tar Heels won the game, 98-63. Williams said he gambled in a casino in Reno, Nev., too, when UNC played at Nevada on New Year's Eve Day. Williams lost money again throwing the dice, but UNC beat the Wolf Pack, 84-61.
"You got to be a halfway idiot if you think I'm not going to go gamble and lose money before this game," Williams said. "I have gambled and I have lost. I'm doing every dadgum thing I can do to win the game, including giving Detroit money."
Connectict coach Jim Calhoun said he banned his players from going into the casinos this week. Michigan State senior Travis Walton said Spartans coach Tom Izzo told his players the same thing, and Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds said none of the Wildcats' players have gambled this week.
Even though Calhoun said he told his players not to gamble, he said he didn't have a problem with Lawson going to the casino.
"He's of age," Calhoun said. "I just don't really find it that problematic. A person of age is allowed to do really what he wants to do as long as it's legal. That certainly was very legal in his particular case."

If they do, the phrase "overstepping their bounds" comes to mind.

really well known about the gambling issues Jordan and Barkley have so you would think Lawson would stay away from that because it could hurt his draft stock.

The kid won $250 winning craps not out molesting a child. NBA players spend more than that on the way to the casino or on one hand of blackjack or porker. If that would hurt his draft status, then a lot of players would not be in pro sports.

I have a friend that works in a casino and he says that a lot of their high roller clients are pro athletes. I think he will be OK with $250 from an adult that is 21.

Honestly, who cares what an adult does. Next thing we will have people advocating that he cannot drink alcohol. :D

Well, not during halftime anyway.

Leave it alone. It's perfectly legal and he's not hurting anyone. This is just asking for trouble if the NCAA steps in.

I got nothing. He's 21. Let it alone.

Frowned upon? Yes. Discouraged? Yes? Forbidden or against the rules? No.

Would anybody have a problem if any one of the final four officials were gambling at a Detroit casino earlier this week?

I believe officials are not allowed to frequent (partake in games of chance) at casinos while they are in a town for an assignment. I do not think there is a prohibition (with the exception of sports betting on their sport) for officials who are not working an assignment or during the off times and off season.

I'm sorry but that's just stupid.

Mohegans Made Us An Offer We Couldn't Refuse, And It Didn't Involve Beads ...
 

Similar controversy here in Connecticut, for the state high school championships:

H.S. Basketball: Mohegan, CIAC make it official for state championships - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin

Coaches' Views Mixed On Casino Hosting CIAC Finals -- Courant.com

The CIAC's Weekend At Mohegan Sun -- Courant.com

Hey Nevadaref, I'm sending you replies to your PM but I can't send my last one because your inbox is full. Free me up some space. :p

The key word in your post is "Legaly". If its legal leave it alone... It has zero affect on the games. Why pick boogers? If he is betting on games another story... but cards, craps, slots.. Who cares. Why do we have to legislate everything?

As far as the WCC hosting their tourney in Vegas... as long as they are not betting on games the NCAA won't care and should not.

Maybe he should have bought some scratch and win lottery tickets instead.

:rolleyes:

I encourage everyone to hold their meetings, conventions, etc. in Las Vegas. The local economy can always use a boost. :D

If it's craps, roulette, blackjack, 7 card stud, slots, PowerBall or $1,000 in $1 scratchers etc...then no, I really don't have a problem with that. Betting on games is a different story IMO.

There are two issues of concern when it comes to athletes, coaches, and officials gambling.

1. Betting on the sport in which they participate. They would have to be Pete Rose stupid in order to do this, and it's easier to regulate against.

2. Betting too much money and getting into gambling debt. This is a much bigger and more realistic fear. It's the kind of thing that leads to point shaving and Tim Donaghy scandals. It's also harder to regulate against without a zero-tolerance policy.

Wow, you'd think that NBA players, with all their money, could get some good-looking women.

I have a friend who was a whitehat in the Big 12 and he said that at their pre-season meetings, the FBI came in and told them which restaurants in various Big 12 cities had connections to the mob and to stay out of them.

As for the NCAA imposing restrictions on the players' gambling, you have to be aware that the NCAA is a control-freak organization. They told people not to talk about the U-Conn situation at the Final Four. In their mind, they want us to believe that all college athletes are students and go to class and never get arrested.

As long as the person is not participating in THAT PARTICULAR GAME, then what difference does it make?

To use the Pete Rose example, as long as he didn't bet on games involving the Reds, then what is the problem? He doesn't have any more control over such a contest than some random guy in Vegas, right?

Nevada - I agree in principle, especially now. However, "back in the day" before the internet, ESPN, etc., a person with insider knowledge over who was injured or had a death in the family and would not play, may certainly have an advantage on the spread, over and under, or runs scored, etc....just sayin.

PS - I'm no Pete Rose fan. Go O's! Boo Big Red Machine!