Default Student-athletes should be wary when participating in fantasy sports

Student-athletes should be wary when participating in fantasy sports

By: Andrew Damron
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Sports
The Parthenon

Fantasy sports are vastly popular among mainstream Internet enthusiasts today, but due to NCAA restrictions athletes must be careful so they don't find themselves under fire.

The NCAA has said students, athletic department staff members, conference office staff members and anyone affiliated with the athletics department in any way is prohibited from being involved in any type of sports wagering including fantasy sports leagues where a prize of any kind is given to the winner.

"I support the legislation the NCAA has passed regarding gambling activities," said Derek Gwinn, associate athletic director for Compliance. "There is no room for gray area when it comes to gambling and athletics because of the potential danger involved. It eliminates the potential for a person's gambling interest to grow or even begin. Gambling can be addicting and can also be hazardous to people, not only financially, but professionally as well."

Many different types of leagues are available for anyone interested in creating a fantasy group of their own.

Some leagues that are safe to join are free to the public and require no entry fee, therefore barring any prize given.

Some Web sites, such as Yahoo, allow competitors to sign up and pay for expert opinions in order to maintain a successful fantasy team.

Most participants, like secondary education major and graduate student Adam Watson, don't wish to go beyond the free leagues.

"I have never purchased any extra package, I have only played on the free games," Watson said. "I don't care enough about it to pay extra for it. I have played for a small amount of money. I have been in a league where the owners would put up a few dollars in a pot, but it has never been anything over $20. I think a small prize makes the league a little more competitive and therefore interesting but it usually isn't an amount of money that really benefits the winner."

Watson believes the ruling by NCAA is beneficial, even though he has been involved in a fantasy league where a cash prize has been granted to the winner.

"There are some leagues that often have guys putting money on the line, and I don't think players, officials or sports information officers should be involved with it," Watson said. "If there is enough money on the line then they may be enticed to use their position to influence the outcome of a game."

Gwinn said the popularity of fantasy sports has increased over the years and it is due largely to the person managing a fantasy team having the opportunity to make coach-like decisions.

"I believe its popularity stems from the opportunity it gives for people to manage their own team," Gwinn said. "Many people dream of being coaches or managers on some level, and with fantasy sports they can to a certain degree. For people that enjoy gambling, when you throw in the money wagering aspect, it makes it more enticing. From the NCAA's perspective, that is not in the best interest of a student-athlete's well-being, which is the focus of intercollegiate athletics."

Gwinn said if more gambling opportunities like fantasy sports leagues arise in the athletic world then it's most likely that the NCAA would propose and pass legislations that would appropriately address any concerns in the future.

College students REACT TO ME!!!!! What's your take?