The message from the University of Maryland to its football players was topped by the words “SPORTS WAGERING” in oversized, bold lettering.
But the preseason memo, obtained by The Baltimore Sun as part of a public records request, didn’t just caution athletes against point shaving and “impermissible gambling,” which includes participating in fantasy leagues and March Madness and Super Bowl pools.
It also warned against disseminating “insider information” about “plays, strategies, injuries” that could be valuable to gamblers scrapping for advantage in a fast-growing industry in which wagers are made on players’ performances, as well as teams’ wins and losses.