OPINION:
The current legal issues surrounding sports betting, illegal gambling and name, image and likeness (NIL) deals by college sports players indicate the development of an alarming trend.
Revenue from sports betting has risen, resulting in younger players with more free money and greater access to betting platforms. It’s created the perfect storm for negative ripple effects. I currently assist several college students suffering from gambling addictions.
President Trump has even noticed the problem and issued an executive order to save college athletics. Our judicial system’s recent rulings include allowing college athletes to make NIL deals, overturning the 1992 gambling law and, recently, allowing an incoming quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders — who admitted to placing thousands of bets during his college career — to simply be suspended for two games.
Athletes’ involvement in gambling and these new revenue streams should concern us all. In my opinion, the NIL initialism more accurately stands for No Integrity Left.
There are many cases of sports betting affecting the outcome of games. These include the 1919 World Series and the 1978-1979 Boston College basketball points-saving scandal. But current temptations are at an epic level, and small-print warnings on TV ads or billboards about the danger of gambling addictions are insufficient.
If players and coaches accept the responsibility of sports integrity, then why are judges undermining the industry? Integrity in sports must be protected and anybody who compromises it should be removed. This should not be a case-by-case issue, not should it depend on the school conference.
If recent rulings stand, they will shatter a lifelong lesson we teach our children in sports. Judges must respect the rules that exist to protect sports integrity and stop listening to cries of outside organizations that want to manipulate the industry for profit.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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