August 9, 2000

Sports Officials Endorse McCain Effort to Limit Sports Gambling
(RACINE, Wis.) — The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) today announced it has formally endorsed the effort of Arizona Sen. John McCain to ban sports gambling on high school, collegiate and Olympic events.

"As officials, our primary mission in all contests — regardless of the level — is to uphold the integrity of the event," said NASO President Barry Mano. "Sports officials strive to demonstrate the personal qualities that promote fair play. Yet the public does seem to have the perception that gambling interests can directly touch individual officials. That perception does not go unnoticed by our association."

"As an educational association our primary objective is to improve officiating at all levels," said Mano. "However, with respect to the overall integrity and well being of sports, an issue such as this demands our attention. With that in mind our board felt it was important we join governing bodies such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Federation of State High School Associations, the United States Olympic Committee and others in saying gambling on amateur sports should be ‘hands off’ to gambling interests."

More than 35 sports organizations have endorsed the legislation.

NASO is a not-for-profit educational association with nearly 19,000 sports officials working at all levels of sports. It has been a vocal advocate of legislation at the state level designed to protect sports officials from physical abuse and assaults. The organization has been successful in getting 14 states to enact such legislation.

(Endorsement Letter Below)