Every year around the NCAA Basketball Tournament, somebody like myself questions whether college sports gambling should be legal. Maybe we should at least look at the moral implications.

Generally, most Americans believe that college athletes should be students first. Not only this, many of these same individuals would cite the chance for a free education, courtesy of athletics as a privilege. Yet we all know that college sports is a billion dollar year industry and this includes sports gambling.

I wonder sometimes if college sports gambling could put some athletes in danger. There are unscrupulous individuals who might attempt to threaten athletes or convince them not to do their best. While this may rarely occur, it would be a shame if a student athlete lost their scholarship, because he or she believes bodily harm might occur. Each college is supposed to provide education for the athletes, in order to warn athletes of signs of those corrupt individuals who might recruit him or her to engage in illegal activities including point shaving.

If we are saying that college athletics is a privilege, why are using athletes for our entertainment by placing bets on their future performance. Should this not be reserved only for professional sports where athletes can legitimately benefit from your wager through their salary or bonus? I am not saying they should ban college sports gambling, but people need to think about the message that is being sent.

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