Uncovering the Point Shaving Scandal at Arizona State University: A Look into the Role of Vegas Bookies in 1994
In the heart of the 1994 college basketball season, an unprecedented point-shaving scandal rocked Arizona State University (ASU). The scheme, led by ASU star player Stevin (Hedake) Smith under the guidance of friend and fellow ASU student Benny Silman, aimed to keep ASU from covering point spreads in four Pac-10 college basketball games.
The first instance of this manipulation occurred against Oregon State on January 27, 1994. ASU won the game but failed to come close to covering the 14 1⁄2 point spread. The inconsistent nature of the ASU squad made the scheme nearly impossible to detect.
The players and their accomplices rode the wave until it all came crashing down. Smith and Silman were soon sentenced to prison, and the point-shaving conspiracy was exposed by Jack Franzi, then the oddsmaker at the Barbary Coast, and other Nevada bookmakers, including Jimmy Vaccaro.
The increasing availability of regulated and licensed sports betting markets is a topic of debate. Some see it as a problem for collegiate sports integrity, while others view heightened scrutiny as a solution. The Arizona State University scandal is being used as a guide for lawmakers and regulators to determine whether to allow sports betting and how to regulate it.
Smith, in a first-person article for Sports Illustrated, revealed that he impacted the final score by playing poor defense rather than missing shots. The scheme was followed in games against Oregon and USC, with ASU losing to USC outright as a five-point favorite.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) introduced the phrase "integrity fee" months before PAPSA, the federal law preventing states from offering single-team sports wagering, was ruled unconstitutional. Most legal bookmakers view the "integrity fee" as a greedy, ham-fisted attempt by sports leagues to force licensed sportsbooks to pay for wagering on sporting events.
However, the Nevada Gaming Control Board was not involved in the investigation of the bank fraud scandal at Arizona State University in 1994. The board believes they already do what the NCAA and pro leagues say must be done to ensure the integrity of sporting events, and paying them to perform basic sportsbook functions is laughable.
The NCAA President, Mark Emmert, stated in January that sports wagering will have a dramatic impact on college sports and could threaten its integrity. The Arizona State University point-shaving scandal serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when such practices are allowed to go unchecked.
In a remarkable turn of events, Washington, even with Smith's help, was pummeled by ASU, assuring the Sun Devils a fourth straight winning season. Smith had a career-high 39 points, hitting 10 of 16 from three-point range, in what would be one of his last games before the scandal came to light.
The Arizona State University point-shaving scandal of 1994 stands as a testament to the importance of regulation and oversight in sports betting. It underscores the need for transparency and accountability to maintain the integrity of college sports and the games we love.
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