NCAA Announcements Draw Attention to Sports Betting Violations

Gambling,

Last month, the NCAA issued a press release announcing it is in the process of addressing alleged sports betting violations by 13 men’s basketball players.

The allegations center on student-athletes betting for and against their own teams, sharing information for sports betting purposes, manipulating scores or game outcomes, and refusing to cooperate with investigators.

The NCAA is careful to point out that none of the players are still enrolled in the schools where the sports betting violations allegedly occurred.

In a separate statement issued last month, the NCAA revealed that three men’s basketball players colluded to win bets that they placed on one another.

Unfortunately, stories like these are not surprising.

We have written before about how sports betting corrupts athletics.

The national experiment with sports gambling has been a disaster for individuals and families, but it is also undermining athletic programs nationwide.

Sports betting is now legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people wager more than a million dollars a day, on average. That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

Studies indicate people who gamble on sports may be twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

Young men are particularly hurt by sports gambling. Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines, and upwards of 20 million men are in debt or have been in debt as a result of sports betting.

And research now shows that the legalization of sports betting may be linked to serious financial problems in America — such as credit card debt, overdrafts, late payments on loans, lower credit scores, and higher bankruptcy rates.

Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by sports betting.

As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect citizens and families from predatory gambling. Otherwise, gambling addiction will simply continue hurting innocent people in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Good News: Federal Court Rules Against Pope Co. Casino Effort

Gambling, ,

On Thursday, a federal court dismissed the lawsuit over Issue 2 of 2024.

Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment that voters passed last November. The measure prevents the State of Arkansas from licensing a casino in Pope County.

It also prevents any additional casinos from being opened in Arkansas without a new constitutional amendment and without local voter approval at a special election.

Cherokee Nation Business received a license to operate a casino in Pope County before Issue 2 passed. After passage of Issue 2, Cherokee Nation Business filed a federal lawsuit to undo the will of the people and block the amendment.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., ruled against Cherokee Nation Business’s lawsuit. This decision effectively upholds Issue 2 and keeps a casino out of Pope County. That is something to celebrate.

Gambling has become a scourge in our state. On average, Arkansans gamble millions of dollars every day.

In spite of that, casino tax revenue has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. Instead it’s hurt our communities.

Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a sharp spike in calls for help with problem gambling.

We have written in the past how gambling companies often oppose safeguards and promote compulsive gambling. 

Unless Arkansans take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas A.G. Joins Coalition Urging Federal Government to Stop Illegal Internet Gambling

Gambling

On Tuesday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced his office has joined a letter from a bipartisan coalition of 50 state attorneys general asking the U.S. Department of Justice to address illegal internet gambling.

In a statement, Attorney General Griffin said these illegal online sports betting and gaming operations are largely operated by foreign companies who fail to effectively verify users are over 18, ignore state laws, and evade taxes.

The coalition of state attorneys general is urging the DOJ to help address illegal gambling by:

  • Using the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to block access to illegal websites and payment processing mechanisms related to illicit gambling;
  • Seizing assets—including servers, websites, domains, and proceeds—used by gambling operators; and
  • Coordinating with states, financial institutions, and payment processors to block unlawful transactions and dismantle financial infrastructure related to illegal gaming operations.

Internet gambling of any kind is a serious problem.

We already have seen how gambling addiction has hurt our state. Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by internet sports betting.

Internet gambling simply makes it possible for people to gamble — and lose — 24 hours a day from anywhere in Arkansas. That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

We appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin standing up against illegal internet gambling. We hope Arkansas’ other policymakers continue to do so as well.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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