[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1423-S1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ENSIGN (for himself and Mr. Reid):
  S. 338. A bill to protect amateur athletics and combat illegal sports 
gambling; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today I join my colleague from Nevada, 
Senator Ensign, in introducing bipartisan legislation aimed at 
curtailing illegal gambling in college sports. The bill we are 
introducing will have a direct and immediate impact on the growing 
national problem of illegal gambling in college sports.
  Illegal gambling in college sports is a growing phenomenon. It is a 
problem not only in our college campuses and dorm rooms but is 
spreading throughout the country. While we have laws on our books 
prohibiting this activity, they seem to be having little impact.
  Last year there were several legislative efforts aimed at addressing 
this problem. I was fortunate last year to work on a similar bill which 
had the support of Senators Torricelli, Baucus, and Lincoln and former 
Senators Bryan and Robb. Some suggested enacting a prohibition on all 
forms of sports wagering--even in States where it is legal and 
regulated. Such a proposal is an affront to States' rights and more 
importantly, does not address the real problem--illegal gambling.
  Indeed, it is like shutting down the Bank of America in order to 
eliminate loan sharking. I have a pretty good understanding of the many 
issues involving gaming. Prior to my service in the Senate I chaired 
the Nevada Gaming Commission. The Commission was responsible for 
regulating all forms of Nevada's legal gaming industry. Gaming succeeds 
in Nevada not despite regulation but because of regulation.
  It is an all-cash industry. Absent regulation, it invites mischief 
and criminal wrongdoing. The National gambling Impact Study Commission 
estimates that as much as $380 billion is wagered illegally every year. 
By contrast, all sports wagers in Nevada were less than 1 percent of 
illegal wagers, with college wagers only one-third of the State total.
  While there has been disagreement over the appropriate policy 
response to illegal gambling on college sports, there is agreement that 
something must be done. The Ensign-Reid bill we are introducing today 
takes affirmative steps to immediately address illegal gambling on 
college sports. It establishes a task force on illegal wagering on 
collegiate sporting events at the Department of Justice.
  The task force is directed to enforce Federal laws prohibiting 
gambling related to college sports and to report to Congress annually 
on the number of prosecutions and convictions obtained. It doubles the 
penalties for illegal sports gambling. Our bill also addresses the 
growing trend of gambling by minors by directing the National Institute 
of Justice to conduct a study on this disturbing trend.
  It requires the Attorney General to conduct a study of illegal 
college sports gambling. Our legislation answers a concern raised by 
the NCAA regarding illegal gambling on college campuses. The National 
Gambling Impact Study Commission's final report found widespread 
illegal gambling by student athletes despite NCAA regulations 
prohibiting such activities. The commission urged the NCAA to do more. 
The NCAA has failed to take any action so our bill does.
  Just as schools now report on incidents of drug and alcohol abuse on 
their campuses they will now provide similar data on illegal wagering. 
Schools will be required to coordinate their anti-gambling programs and 
submit an annual report to the Secretary of Education. In addition to 
reporting on incidents of illegal gambling activity on their campuses, 
schools will be required to provide a statement of policy regarding 
illegal gambling.
  Finally, our bill includes a section on personal responsibility. 
Students receiving athletic-related aid shall be deemed ineligible for 
such aid if it is

[[Page S1424]]

determined that that student engaged in illegal gambling activity. 
While this is a taught measure, if the NCAA is serious about addressing 
this problem, we would hope they could join us in supporting a real 
solution. Schools will be required to coordinate their efforts to 
reduce illegal gambling on campuses.
  I believe the problems of illegal gambling on college sporting events 
is very real. I believe it is growing. No one knows the real extent of 
this problem. No one knows what is being done to combat this at the 
Federal level or by our Nation's institutions of higher learning. The 
NCAA has chosen not to address this problem. To date, their combined 
strategy of finger pointing, use of red herring and outright denial has 
left us with little to show in terms of addressing this problem. Our 
nation's students and schools are being ill-served by this beleaguered 
association that at times seems more interested in signing billion 
dollar broadcasting contracts than ensuring the integrity of the 
sporting events they sanction.
  Our bipartisan legislation takes significant and meaningful steps 
toward cleaning up the state of affairs with collegiate sports. I urge 
my colleagues join us in committing to address the problem of illegal 
gambling in college sports.
                                 ______