Reid to introduce alternative to college betting ban

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 11:20 a.m.

Nevada's two senators acknowledged Monday that the state faces an uphill battle against the National Collegiate Athletic Association's push to ban betting on college sports.

"It's going to be a real tough battle because Nevada is the only state that will be hurt," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "It's an easy vote for the other states. They're not targeted."

Reid said he plans to introduce an alternative bill Wednesday seeking a delay in the NCAA's proposal until a study of illegal gambling across the country is conducted by the Justice Department.

"We want the Justice Department to provide information on the extent of illegal gambling and what they're doing about it," Reid said.

Casino-industry leaders contend the NCAA, which has acknowledged illegal betting is widespread on its 1,150 campuses, should be doing more to curb the problem in its own house before going after Nevada's.

The NCAA's bill is expected to be unveiled at a well-publicized Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday by two NCAA allies, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. The NCAA has solicited the support of legendary college coaches Joe Paterno and Dean Smith in their battle with the casino industry.

"If they bring in people like Paterno and Smith, that's going to be very difficult for us," Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said, adding there appears to be some "appeal" for the NCAA bill in Congress.

Bryan described the NCAA legislation as "misplaced" and "absurd."

"I think it will be counterproductive and drive illegal gambling further into the streets and back alleys of America," he said.

Reid calls the NCAA's mind-set "illogical at best, and devious at worst."

"If this legislation passed tomorrow, it wouldn't solve the problem of illegal gambling in America," Reid said.

Gov. Kenny Guinn told the Sun he intends to keep a close eye on the unfolding events in Washington.

"They're looking at the wrong place," Guinn said. "They should be looking at those areas where it's not regulated and illegal."

Guinn urged the congressional delegation and the casino industry to remain vigilant.

"The NCAA is going to organize and get as much help as it can, and we have to make sure that we're organized and are as prepared as we can be," he said.

Wayne Mehl, Washington lobbyist for the Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry's political arm in the state, likened the NCAA bill to the campaign to make Nevada the nation's high-level nuclear waste dump. Legislation pushing Yucca Mountain, about 90 miles outside Las Vegas, as the dump site has been dubbed the "Screw Nevada" bill.

"This is almost Screw Nevada 2," Mehl said. "We'll just have to dig in and do the best that we can against tough odds."

Frank Fahrenkopf, the casino industry's chief spokesman in Washington, plans to issue a statement Wednesday attacking the NCAA's "hypocrisy" in working to outlaw betting in Nevada, a $2.3 billion-a-year business, before educating students across the country about the ills of illegal gambling.

But Fahrenkopf, the American Gaming Association president, has decided to measure his attacks this week in part because of the celebrity coaches.

Both Paterno, the longtime football coach at Penn State, and Smith, the retired basketball coach at North Carolina, command much respect across the country.