During March, and in connection with the men and women's basketball championship, the NCAA always receives many inquiries about sports wagering. This also is a time that information promoting misconceptions about the NCAA's sports-wagering position and activities is distributed.
The NCAA opposes all forms of gambling on intercollegiate athletics. That position and Association bylaws are posted elsewhere on this site. The agents, amateurism and gambling staff is always prepared to provide further assistance. Information here clarifies NCAA activities related to sports wagering.
For the first time, the official men's and women's 2002 Division I Basketball Championship bracket contains language which states "The NCAA opposes all sports wagering. This bracket should not be used for sweepstakes, contests, office pools or other gambling activities."
When the NCAA learns of any efforts to tie gambling to its Web site, immediate action is taken to eliminate or disassociate that activity. Such was the case during the 2001 tournament, when a link to a tournament game was mistakenly placed on an NCAA Web site. The link was immediately removed.
The NCAA also has had some inquiries from Web surfers who have reported that popup ads for gambling sites have appeared when they click on NCAA Online. Those ads are not part of the NCAA site. They appear because the visitor has unknowingly downloaded a program onto their computer that contains what is commonly referred to as "spyware." Spyware monitors the Web sites visited and reports them to an advertising firm. The advertising firm then sends popup ads to the computer, which are targeted to the type of sites visited. For example, sports gambling ads are displayed when one visits a sports Web site.
Upon learning that Street & Smith, a popular basketball magazine, had placed gambling advertisements in the same preseason edition that utilized the NCAA logo, the NCAA immediately initiated action to assure such advertisements would not be included in future issues.
NCAA staff members will again meet with each team participating in the Division I Men's and Women's Final Fours to discuss sports gambling. An FBI agent accompanies staff on those visits. The same discussions are held with teams participating in the Frozen Four and College World Series.
For the third year, the NCAA conducted gambling background checks on game officials selected to work in the men's and women's tournaments.
Student-athletes read and sign a gambling affidavit form before they participate in the basketball tournament.
The NCAA continues to negotiate with CBS regarding its relationship with CBS Sportsline.com as it approaches a new 11-year contract with CBS beginning later this year.
The NCAA's corporate partner programs address use of the word "sweepstakes" in connection with promotions that involve use of the NCAA trademark. Specifically, the policy states, "Promotions must not utilize point difference, aggregate score, combined points or any sort of point predictions or point element as part of the contest. Promotions may include picking teams but this is discouraged. It is necessary to secure specific NCAA approval of promotional concepts involving prizes for picking teams."
Sports-wagering public service announcements run during the men's and women's basketball championships. "Don't Bet On It" brochures and posters have been distributed to student-athletes throughout the Association.
Many companies do random giveaways of products when people purchase their products, such as under-the-cap bottle promotions. This is not a gambling activity. In the case of the promotion for Mountain Dew products, a purchase is not necessary. Consumers may write to the company to receive a bottle cap.
NCAA staff assists member institutions with programs to educate students and staff about sports wagering and its effects. Programs have been conducted recently at Florida State University; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; the University of Miami (Florida); and the University of Connecticut.
Staff on NCAA campuses can increase efforts to battle sports wagering influences. Make sure that students, staff and faculty know and understand that bookmaking is illegal. Get campus police involved with local authorities who may be developing information about illegal activities. Check the campus newspaper for gambling advertisements and monitor campus computers to determine if there are any bookmarks for sports wagering sites. Meet with student services personnel, residence hall advisors, and others to maintain awareness for activities that may point to illegal wagering.
The NCAA's sports-wagering staff is the best source for information about Association sports-wagering efforts. Contact the staff at 317/917-6222.
The contact for this page is bsaum@ncaa.org
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