Editorial: Betting ban bill takes center stage

Friday, June 16, 2000 | 9:31 a.m.

Much of what Congress does is theater. Hearings routinely are held on the hot issue of the moment, officials express their outrage, the media dutifully report the political drama -- and the issue then quietly disappears, never to be heard from again. Nevada's sports books can only pray that legislation to ban betting on college sports, which received a hearing this week in the House Judiciary Committee, falls into this category.

The danger with this sleeper of an issue, though, is that it could gain momentum because there's no downside to it with the voters back home. After all, the bill only affects one state -- Nevada. But the GOP House leadership has assured Nevada Republicans that the bill, which only would serve to drive legal wagering underground, is dead. The odds also greatly favor the gaming industry since both parties gladly accept the industry's political donations. If the bill dies, this could be one of those rare instances where political influence, and doing what's right, actually are in confluence.

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