Online Gambling Legal on Florida Sports Team

November 25, 2008

It would seem that everyone these days is saying that online gambling is illegal, and that online poker playing is as well. However, it would also assume that everyone is expected to follow the law, no matter who you are. But the Florida Athletic Director and Head Coach obviously don�t feel the same way.

Guard Nick Calathes was investigated for participating in online gambling and has admitted that he did. He did not say that he felt he had done anything wrong, just that he had joined in online gambling. AD Jeremy Foley and HC Billy Donovan were quick to come to his defense saying that there was nothing wrong with playing online gambling.

Calathes has said that he has both won and lost at online gambling, and some were calling for his removal from the team. The higher ups disagree. They say that there are no eligibility issues and that the matter has been resolved. They were actually wondering why the media was interested in a player being involved in online gambling.

Many in the media speculated that Calathes could throw a game if he had money riding on it, but he has stated that although he has participated in online gambling it was always poker playing � not sports betting. The NCAA says that online gambling as it pertains to poker is not illegal and does not violate any rules. They say that it only pertains to sports betting, not poker playing.

It just seems odd that with the US government making a big deal over online gambling that state colleges would have to follow the rules as they have been set. Perhaps if he was not such a good player, he may have been thrown under the bus, but this is not the case. In fact, online gambling groups are thrilled because the NCAA has just come out and admitted that online gambling and poker playing are legal.
 

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