The popular phrase, “follow the money,” means following the betting action as well. The bookmaker contention is that by simply studying wagering patterns, they can discern if a sporting event is fixed.
When National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) officials and lobbyists first introduced the phrase “integrity fee” months before PAPSA, the 1992 federal law preventing any state other than Nevada from allow sportsbooks to offer single-team sports wagering, was ruled unconstitutional last May, the bookmaking world bristled. Looking back 25 years provides an interesting guide for lawmakers and regulators as they try to determine whether to allow sports betting and, if they do, how to regulate it. To explore the matter, Sport Handle examined the 1994 Arizona State University (ASU) basketball point-shaving scandal from the perspective of Las Vegas bookmakers.
Is the increasing availability of regulated and licensed sports betting markets a major problem for collegiate sports integrity – or is heightened scrutiny collegiate sports will receive because of these new markets part of the solution?
