Should Athletes Gamble?
Written by: Tom Sawyer
North Carolina will face off with Michigan State in Detroit tonight for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and there has been some talk concerning gambling at the tournament. No, none of the athletes have been accused of gambling on sports – at least not yet. But since the games are being played right across the river from some Canadian casinos, gambling has been a topic of discussion.
North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson, who is 21, won $200 playing craps and it has turned into a story. He is old enough, he was playing at a legitimate casino and he wasn’t breaking any rules/laws. It seems as though some people think there is something wrong with what he did. What do you think? The NCAA can discourage (legal) gambling by a student/athlete, but that is about it.
Athletes are big time competitors and gambling is something that naturally fits their persona. Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan are notorious for high-stakes gambling. Pete Rose is too, but of course he gambled on the sport and games he was personally involved in. There is something morally wrong with that, but gambling that doesn’t involve the sport the athlete is a part of should be OK.
Somebody has to gamble or the casinos wouldn’t still be in business right? Why should athletes be looked upon differently than the rest of potential casino customers when it comes to gambling?
Tags: Lawson wins at Canadian casino, should athletes gamble
April 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I think as long as they aren’t betting on games they are playing in it’s their own business what they do in their free time.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I don’t find Lawson gambling as news worthy. I’ve gambled many times and never made the front page. I feel a bit slighted.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
You should feel good – you are on the front page now!
April 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Once I get into the NFL, I really dont know what I am going to do when it comes to this topic. I like to gamble now only on football because it makes the games a little better to watch and gives more excitement. Once I turn pro though, im sure I wont be able to watch as many games and be able to keep up with the lines and all that. But in my opinion, if its legal and the person is doing it legal, why do people care about gambling athletes? They make the money honest and get super overpaid, so why should we care if the gamble some of their “unearned” money? I say leave them alone and let them being normal humans.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Young Ty Lawson only won $200.00 and they think it news worthy? It is too bad society has placed athletes on such a high pedestal! Anything they do becomes a topic for discussion. But as I say so often, with position comes scrutiny and high expectations.
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