Gambling In Sports

By: Paige Williams

• The activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.

• Risk and Prize – Adrenaline

• Gamblers bet on everything from total points, to who will score the first touchdown, to what colour Gatorade will be dumped on the head of the winning coach.

History• 400 B.C. Greeks were betting on the Olympic

Games.

• 1000 B.C. China was betting on horse and dog Races

• 3000 B.C. Betting on Roman Gladiator Fights

• 19th Century – Rugby, soccer, baseball, racing

• Became illegal in America, until it was legalized in Las Vegas – 1931

• In 1974 Taxes on wagers were eliminated

• Casinos opened sportsbooks

• T.V. and Internet = ultimate convenience

Legality

• European countries - bookmaking is regulated but not criminalized

• America - Illegal to operate a betting scheme, except in a few states.

• Canada - currently legal to place bets on a series of games or events, but illegal to bet on a single sporting event.

• Commissioners opposed to legalization – afraid of corruption.

Point Shaving & Influencing

• The manipulation of scoring so the final score ends in a predetermined outcome.

• Prevents a team from covering a published point spread.

• Athletics that are under paid are extremely influenced.

Black Sox Scandal• 8 members of the Chicago White Sox

banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games against the Cincinnati Red during the 1919 World Series.

• Paid and treated poorly by club owner• Gandil persuaded a professional

gambler that he could fix the World Series. A New York gangster supplied the money through his lieutenant.

2007 NBA Scandal

• Referee, Tim Donaghy, bet on games that he officiated.

• FBI investigation – Donaghy plead guilty.

• Had severe gambling addiction.• Received $30,000 to pass inside

information.• Told high school friends what he was

doing to help them make money too.

QUESTIONS!?!

Game Time?

• Straight Puck Line Bet or Point Spread

• Odds•Phoenix Coyotes: +1 ½ (-175)

Los Angeles Kings: - 1 ½ (+155)

• In our example, a wager on Phoenix means that they must win the game by 2 goals in order for you to win your bet. You will have to wager $160 to win $100. A wager on Los Angeles means they can lose by 1 goal or win the game. You must wager $100 to win $140.

Team A: +1 ½ (-200)Team B: -1 ½ (+150)