Fantasy Sports Pulled Back Into Rising Sports Betting Debate

Fantasy sports wagering, which often get a perplexing free ride in the gambling law discussions, is causing the NCAA to take another look at Montana's state gaming lottery.

The swirling debate aroused by the new Delaware sports betting law has caused the accepted nature of fantasy sports gambling to fall under the spotlight. After Delaware officials questioned the consistency of the NCAA, representatives from the college association are re-examining Montana's fantasy sports program.

Delaware authorities were told by NCAA officials that, if the state enacted legal sports gambling, it would withhold all future NCAA playoff events. But the Delaware contingent pointed out that Montana has legal sports betting on its fantasy lottery game, yet hosted two NCAA playoff games last year.

"We did have an administrative oversight previously, but that was an error on our side and it's not going to happen again,'' NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said last week. "We've taken steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.''

Osborn's words were virtually identical to the position offered by Rachel Newman-Baker, the NCAA Director of Gambling, during the Delaware legislative discussion.

But now Montana is feeling pressure to conform to the new reading of NCAA rules, or suffer the consequences.

Attorneys for the University of Montana say they are studying the rules carefully, to determine exactly what is and is not allowed. Athletic directors from that school and Montana State say the NCAA will probably review the situation this summer.

State officials say they should have the games and still keep the revenue-producing fantasy games, as they have no betting on game outcomes.