TIME Magazine

Dear Editor:

Is it possible that a well-respected national magazine can publish an article attacking our industry without so much as allowing us to defend ourselves? You bet. Not only is it possible, that’s what TIME did in its Sept. 25 article “Throwing the Game.”

The bill currently before Congress to ban legal sports betting in Nevada has serious flaws, and there are good reasons for it not to become law. There is not one iota of credible evidence that eliminating legal, regulated sports betting for adults in Nevada - which represents only 1 percent to 2 percent of all sports betting in America - would do anything to stop the illegal gambling occurring on our nation’s college campuses and elsewhere. All it would do is penalize those who enjoy traveling to Nevada to bet on sporting events - and actually exacerbate the problem.

Many independent observers, including national columnists, sports journalists and law enforcement officials, agree with us that this legislation is a cosmetic response to a real problem on our nation’s college campuses. Where was this point of view in your story?

Instead of a “feel-good” measure, we are advocating common sense, alternative legislation that would actually make a difference. These bills would increase enforcement and penalties for illegal gambling - a strategy promoted by the NCAA until as recently as last year and favored by a former FBI agent in charge of the Las Vegas office, the only person with a law enforcement background to testify before Congress. Yet this was not even mentioned in your report.

If this bill is not approved, it’s because Congress recognized the bill for what it is: an air ball aimed at stopping illegal sports betting.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.