Sports Betting: Time for Rules to Keep the Game Fair

Sports betting is growing fast, and so are the problems that come with it. Recent news about college and NBA players involved in point-shaving schemes is just the tip of the iceberg. This is not new, but it's getting worse. For years, Nevada was the only place where sports betting was legal. They had systems to spot suspicious bets and strange movements in point spreads. For example, in 1994, big bets were placed against Arizona State's basketball team, and authorities were alerted. But not every issue was caught. In 2007, an NBA referee was found to be betting on games and sharing information with gamblers. The NBA said no games were fixed, but a private report suggested otherwise.The big change came in 2018 when the Supreme Court allowed all states to legalize sports betting. Now, with more places offering it, keeping an eye on everything is harder. This is why new rules are needed. First, states should ban bets on individual player performances in college sports. This can lead to bad behavior. Also, states should require services to monitor betting activity and focus on stopping underage gambling. Congress should update old laws, like the Wire Act, which was made before the internet. They should also use tax money from betting to protect sports and bettors. Without these changes, sports and betting could face bigger problems. It's time to act.