NCAA study shows 'disturbing' trend of gambling among athletes

CHICAGO -- The NCAA released a study Wednesday that indicated 35 percent of male athletes and 10 percent of women athletes have gambled on college sports in the past year and that Division III athletes are the most likely to gamble.\nDivision I athletes were the least likely to wager on college sports.\nThe study, called the National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering and Associated Health Risks, surveyed 21,000 men and women athletes about their gambling practices. The results were released Wednesday in Chicago.\n"The scope of sports wagering among intercollegiate student-athletes is startling and disturbing," NCAA president Myles Brand said in a written statement. "Sports wagering is a double-threat because it harms the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of college sports."\nThe study also showed 1.1 percent of football players reported taking money for playing poorly in games. While 2.3 percent of football players admitted they were asked to influence the outcome of games because of gambling debts, 1.4 percent acknowledged actually altering their performance to change the outcome.\nGolfers, wrestlers, lacrosse and football players were the most likely men's athletes to wager on college sports. Women athletes who gamble were more likely to compete in golf, lacrosse, basketball and field hockey.\nIn response to the findings, Brand chose Notre Dame president Rev. Edward A. Malloy to head a national task force that will analyze the results and recommend strategies to change gambling habits among athletes. American Football Coaches Association executive director Grant Teaff will be the task force's vice chair.\nExpected recommendations may include expanding education efforts, changing NCAA rules and seeking new state and federal legislation.\nThe task force will also examine the study's findings on whether alcohol or drug use, which the surveyed athletes also were questioned about, may be indicators of gambling. Those results are still being analyzed by NCAA research staff.\nNCAA officials said future studies may also be conducted to determine trends and determine the effectiveness of the governing body's policies and programs.\n"The NCAA is taking a leadership role at the national level to address this problem among student-athletes before it reaches crisis proportions," Brand said.