Poll: Most approve of legalized sports wagering, but concerns over college games remain

Poll: Most approve of legalized sports wagering, but concerns over college games remain

Article brief provided by Capital News Service
  • Varun Shankar, The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, Capital News Service
August 13, 2022 2:05 PM
  • Varun Shankar, The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, Capital News Service

When Tom McMillen discusses college sports and legalized gambling, he’s straightforward about his concern. He fears a game-fixing scandal that would shake the confidence of fans across the country.

Story continues below

“I would say 99 percent of the sports-betting scandals that have occurred had been in the college market,” said McMillen, a former U.S. Congressman and basketball All American at the University of Maryland.

Two of the most high-profile betting scandals in sports history have occurred at the college level. Boston College’s basketball program was ensnared in point-shaving controversy in the 1978-1979 season. In the 1950-51 season, City College of New York (CCNY) and at least six other schools were involved in a notorious incident involving players being paid to throw games.