[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12888-12889]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     GAMBLING ON COLLEGE ATHLETICS

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I draw quick attention of the body to 
the amendment I hope to bring up sometime during the session--or on a 
freestanding bill--banning gambling on college athletics. There is 
currently only one State in the Union where you can bet on college 
sports. That is in Nevada. It is called the ``Vegas Exception.'' That 
has led to a lot of problems of gambling on college athletics and on 
college campuses.
  Also, one of the aspects I want to point out briefly--and why I want 
to bring this up yet this session of Congress because of the impact it 
is having on our young people--is the expansion into gambling and 
getting addicted.
  We are finding that one of the leading gateways for young people to 
get into gambling is through sports gambling--betting on sporting 
events. That is one of the top two ways of getting young people 
involved. They are among the most susceptible to becoming addicted to 
gambling.
  There is a study by the Harvard Medical School on addiction. It 
reported that college students are three times as likely to develop a 
severe gambling problem as compared with other adults. It shows that 
the leading gateway for college students becoming addicted is through 
sports betting.
  There is only one place in the country where it is legal. That is in 
Nevada. It is the ``Vegas Exception.'' That provides this atmosphere 
where it is legal or thought to be legal in many places, and we are 
seeing this problem grow.
  The NCAA is strongly supportive of this amendment. They want to get 
at this issue of gambling that is expanding exponentially across the 
country, and the problems they are having they want to be able to deal 
with so people will know there is a fair game that is going on. They 
want to deal with it now.
  Some Members are opposed to this amendment. I simply stand here to 
say I am prepared to bring this amendment up at any time with limited 
debate--1 hour of debate equally divided between each side--and I am 
willing to go late into the night, as it is obvious now at this hour--
to talk about this issue, get an up-or-down vote on it, and simply move 
forward. If the body agrees, let the body work its will. If the body 
disagrees, so be it. Let's move on.

[[Page 12889]]

  This is an important issue to our young people, to our colleges, and 
to college athletics. These games should remain honest and not be 
influenced by gambling. We are even hearing of some referees now who 
are betting on games. It is causing people to question whether these 
are legitimate sporting events or fixed events on the point spread.
  I simply continue to state to my colleagues that this is an important 
amendment on which I want to get a vote in this session of Congress. I 
am prepared to have limited debate at any point in time or bring the 
matter up as a freestanding bill so we are able to address it. I don't 
want to hold up other bills. I want to be able to get a vote on this 
particular item. We can do so in a limited time fashion. It is 
important that we get this addressed now.

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