Sports Leaders Urge Senate Panel to Approve Ban on Gambling

Leaders of professional football, basketball and baseball leagues urged members of a Senate panel in Washington Wednesday to approve legislation that would ban gambling on professional and college sports, except in the two states where it is already allowed.

The league officials told lawmakers they fear that state-sponsored lottery and private casino games hinging on the outcome of sporting events would encourage gambling among teen-agers and increase the potential that professional games could be “fixed.”

Appearing before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee to request the gambling ban were NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NBA Commissioner David Stern and baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent.

“Bear in mind that when gambling is permitted on team sports, winning the bet may become more important than winning the game,” Vincent said. “Fans may, in turn, become suspicious of every strikeout or error, and the game’s integrity would be open to question, play by play, day after day.”

If approved, a federal ban on sports gambling would torpedo efforts by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Gardena) to legalize such activities in California.

James J. Davey, a spokesman for the Oregon Lottery, said: “It is a lawful, carefully regulated entertainment vehicle for the Oregon sports fan who would wager a dollar or two in the office pool or on an illegal sports card if this game did not exist. Instead, they can now purchase a sports action ticket knowing that, if they don’t win, the proceeds will benefit their state.”