March Madness is second only to the NFL season as a sports wagering phenomenon, and this fact has one NCAA department not thinking about college basketball but about curbing betting by student athletes. The NCAA’s Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities department in partnership with two other groups has launched a sports wagering curriculum titled "When Gambling Takes Control of the Game." The text was designed to heighten awareness of gambling's addictive dangers to high school athletes. According to the NCAA, it also aims to teach the difference between positive and negative competition, and the tell tale signs of the gambling addiction.
Pat Fowler is the executive director of the Florida Council. He said that students, and in particular boys aged 10 to 12 years old taking their interest in wagering on sports and carrying it through to college.“It isn't necessary to have something at risk to enjoy the sport," Fowler said. "It's a short-term solution to, hopefully, a long-term problem for some of these students.” When Gambling Takes Control of the Game is available at the NCAA website. http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal
