ESPN released a report this morning about college athletes gambling. "According to the study, 35 percent of male athletes and 10 percent of female athletes have bet on college sports in the last year, and Division III athletes are the most likely to gamble." This is not news to me. In college I witnessed players from my own alma mater place bets, my roommate (a former bookie) used to take bets from all sorts of athletes at our school. One day we got a call from the locker room, 30 minutes prior to kick-off, for some players to place bets. Here is my take:
As a former college athlete, myself, I can categorize the athlete-gambler in a two different ways. (No I never bet, they didn't have lines on baseball games and I didn't play long enough.)
1) The Betting on Myself Gambler-College athletes make NO MONEY. Colleges use these players to make MILLIONS of dollars, and most of the athletes get nothing to show for it. Yes, they get a free education and free room and board, but no money for living. The real kicker is that during the school year they are NOT allowed to have a job. So what do they do for money? I have never personally heard of any of the players that I have known to bet AGAINST their team. The calls that my roommate would typically get from the locker room would be "We are fired up today, give me a dime on us." I am sure there is something unethical about that, but I had no problem with it. I would hope that my players were motivated to win. If he called and said that they were gonna lose, then I would have had a major issue with that. But betting on yourself, that is just good business.
2) The In too Deep Gambler: I have watched many college football games and basketball games, and I am positive that I have witnessed players throwing a game. Turnovers, bad shots, poor decision making. Granted in some cases it is a fine line, but there are times when it is blatant. This is the athlete-gambler who has gotten in too deep and is trying to save himself or his family from harm or financial ramifications. Example: I casually bet on my team to win and we lose. I owe money, I double up on the next game and we lose, I owe more money. It gets to the point where I am down $5-$10k...the bookie offers me a way out. Throw the game and I will wipe your slate clean, if not, pay me or I break your sisters leg. What would you do?
So people should not be surprised that college athletes gamble. They need money and because of scholastic rules, they are not allowed to make money playing sports and they are not allowed to make money by getting a part-time job. Pay them, even if it is just a little bit of money and you will not see these problems.
You don't see athletes in the MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL losing games on purpose. Why? Because you can't pay them enough to. The kid from Northwestern that threw the game by fumbling did it for a $400 bet. $400? Pay college student-athletes some form of money and you will not see this problem much longer.
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