2007 March 27 Gambling News, Events and Happenings

The last thing the NCAA needs on the road to the Final Four is even a whiff of the point-shaving scandals that have periodically rocked college basketball: at Arizona State and Northwestern in 1997-1998; Tulane in 1985; Boston College in 1981; St. Joseph’s in 1961 and City College of New York in 1951.

Federal officials Tuesday arrested 12 of 16 people who they say ran a $17-million “old school” gambling operation out of a midtown office building.

Most of the people giddily filling out brackets for their NCAA “March Madness” office pool will never have a problem. But for a few unfortunate young people and their families, the Road to the Final Four, the nation’s fourth biggest gambling event, is paved with personal and financial ruin.

Although it may be hard to believe, there is more going on in the world than the NCAA Basketball Tournament. And even though its not nearly as exciting as an expanded sports page, you will soon receive your March (Investment) Tournament Program in the form of Brokerage Firm Statements.

The hype around March Madness and this weekend’s Final Four is focusing attention on gambling addiction in the workplace, with anti-gambling groups calling on employers to stop sanctioning office betting pools.

A Cary man says police mistook a poker tournament as an illegal gambling operation.

Low Country Authorities Confescate gambling machines and cash during a bust.

LAS VEGAS It’s dead inside Favorites bar this afternoon, where the propped-open door spills a bit of light onto the ancient Elvis pin ball machine and the grumpy man puffing on a cigarette in front of the video …
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The fact that a prominent pastor admits he took church money to support his gambling addiction does not surprise addiction counselors. Problem gamblers are usually smart people with full-time jobs, said Marcia Mattoso, an Addiction Counselor for Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare.