Why is point-shaving illegal in states where sports gambling is illegal?

Question

The only "victims" are people who are doing something illegal themselves.

Answer 1

Point shaving results in cheating by players, against their own team. It's wrong for those reasons, not just for reasons of gambling.

Answer 2

Financial Answer:

Even though it may be illegal to gamble in the state that the game is being played in... you can bet that people are gambling on it in Vegas and Atlantic City. With that much money on the line, you can bet that the casinos are going to get their hands in on it.

Ethical Answer:

Point shaving takes away from the competitive balance of the game. The point of sports is "You play to win the game" (to quote Herman Edwards). Point shaving is playing to almost lose the game, and it doesn't matter if there is money on the line or not.

Answer 3

Whether or not sports betting is legal in a state and in fact especially if it isn`t then shaving points is aiding and abetting an illegal activity.  In addition to trying to preserve the integrity of sporting events this is illegal mostly because it involves participating in a fraudulent activity.  If not for the betting then it wouldn`t be a matter of law and merely an internal matter among the sport itself, for instance if you hate your coach and throw the game to get even or such, but when this involves gambing, legal or illegal, it`s fraud to alter the outcomes for profit and you`re a part of that.  So this has absolutely nothing to do with Nevada or other states, or offshore books.  

Point shaving may or may not alter the result of the game especially when the spread is tighter.

What you`re saying here is equivalent to saying shooting drug dealers is OK since the only people being hurt are drug dealers.  The bigger question is whether shooting people in general is wrong or not and the same thing applies to altering sporting events for profit which is also wrong.

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