Reid faces formidable foe on issue of sports wagering

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seeking to soften the stance of Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who wants to ban gambling on college sports. But as Congress finishes its work this month, it's clear Brownback won't back down when the Senate reconvenes next year.

Brownback wants to outlaw wagers on college sporting events in an effort to decrease gambling on campuses and the likelihood of game-fixing.

Nevada lawmakers oppose the bill, but the legislation has wide support in Congress, including vocal advocate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Because only Nevada allows gambling on college games, Nevada lawmakers are essentially alone in their fight against a bill that would hurt the gaming industry.

Brownback and Reid exchanged public volleys on the issue this year on the Senate floor. Brownback several times pushed for a vote, but Reid and Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., blocked him, frustrating Brownback.

On the Senate floor last week, Reid made an private appeal to Brownback, pitching Nevada's case in a less adversarial setting, Reid said.

"The main thing to do is make sure Sen. Brownback knows we in Nevada are trying to do the best thing for athletes," Reid said. "I want him to know what we have in Nevada, our controls, help prevent cheating in college games."

Reid hopes to keep a dialogue open between the two before next year.

As an alternative to Brownback's bill, Nevada's lawmakers propose legislation that attacks widespread illegal gambling circles nationwide -- not legal gambling in Nevada.

"I don't think we can get him to back off," Reid said. "Obviously he feels very strongly about the issue. Maybe we can get him to come up with something more reasonable."

Brownback declined comment on his private conversations with Reid, spokesman Erik Hotmire said.

"I'm sure there haven't been any plans laid out between the two senators," Hotmire said.

Hotmire did not comment on Brownback's strategy for next year.

Gaming lobbyist Wayne Mehl said more conversations between Reid and Brownback can only help the gambling industry's flagging cause, given overwhelming support for the bill in Congress. Mehl expects Brownback to push the legislation early in the session next year.

"We have no reason to believe otherwise," said Mehl, of the Nevada Resort Association.

Top industry lobbyist Frank Fahrenkopf agreed, reiterating that the gaming industry had only Nevada's four members in Congress to battle the bill. He has met with Brownback and the other leading advocates of the bill, and they won't be changing their minds, Fahrenkopf said.

"We're talking about people who believe it is morally wrong to bet on college games," said Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association. "So we have our work cut out for us. But we'll be ready."