In the Latest Line section of most daily newspapers, one can find point spreads for nearly every sport: NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, NCAA football and men’s basketball.
NCAA women’s basketball will not be found there, however. The Las Vegas gambling community has, for years, ignored women’s basketball, and the sport was free of any influences associated with organized gambling.
That could change soon. With its rapidly increasing popularity, women’s college basketball could soon face the difficulties of being the subject of Las Vegas gambling, according to both the University of Oregon’s compliance office and a recent study done by the University of Michigan.
Although newspapers do not currently carry point spreads for women’s basketball, “the sport is certainly getting more popular, so there probably will be some (point spreads) someday soon,” said Bill Clever, the athletics department’s assistant director for compliance.
Last year, several Las Vegas sports consulting agencies established odds for the NCAA women’s Final Four.
A study by the University of Michigan on gambling among college athletes concluded that “the involvement of female athletes in gambling activities should not be discounted.
“Although our findings indicate a lesser involvement by females then their male peers, this should not provide false comfort to administrators. As media focus and professional opportunities increase, the temptations and problems that face male athletes are likely to be encountered by females. With women’s basketball contests receiving more attention … there is increased potential for problems.”
The study found that female student athletes are less likely to participate in all forms of gambling than their male counterparts, from casino gambling to point shaving. In most of the study’s categories of gambling, the study found that at least 10 percent fewer women participate than the combined average of men and women.
University of Oregon women’s head basketball coach Jody Runge said that to her knowledge, the women’s basketball program at the University has not faced any problems from the gambling community, and she did not know if the increased popularity of the sport would lead to problems associated with gambling.
“I think that’s hard to comment on,” Runge said. “I think that it remains to be seen. I certainly would hope not.”
She added that her friends in Las Vegas have never seen her team in a point spread.
“I think until you get national exposure and really get on the radar in Vegas, it’s really just not an issue,” she said.
There are more pressing issues surrounding the players, Runge said.
“I think you try to protect [the players] from people outside the program for a lot of reasons,” Runge said. “I’m more concerned with inappropriate contact with agents and things of that nature, but I guess gambling is one of those things.”