Las Vegas Sun

December 5, 2009

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Letter: Betting ban here boost for bookies

Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

My question is whether the NCAA or members of Congress pushing for this bill have convenient short memories or have neglected any research.

We all know that wagering on any Nevada team is illegal, however one can always find a point spread on local teams in our newspaper. This comes from "off-shore" countries like the Bahamas.

Back in the 1950s and 1960s there were many college basketball point-shaving scandals involving CCNY (City College of New York), LIU (Long Island University) Columbia, Kentucky and others. All players involved were eventually caught and banned for life.

There were no sports books, but plenty of bookies. Parlay cards were available at colleges and in work environments. They were distributed by bookies or their runners. I personally saw them on both the East and West coasts.

Does anyone think this will not be resumed? Should anyone realistically believe our law enforcement officers will prioritize gambling on the same level as true crime and the drug wars?

Will anyone give any honest answers?

WILLIAM A. POLIOS

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