Office pool participants can score fine, jail

Jumping into the NCAA Tournament office pool could land you in hot water.

Gambling on the tournament — by throwing $1 or more into the pot for each 64-team bracket filled out during March Madness — is against the law, police and prosecutors say.

Even if they can’t remember anyone ever getting busted for it.

“Obviously, it’s not something that we’re going to go out and pursue,” said Sgt. Dan Ward, Lawrence police spokesman. “We’re not going to send undercover people out to try to infiltrate an office betting pool.

“But if it is reported to us, we would be obligated to check it out.”

Illegal gambling is characterized as requiring money or other compensation to enter a game of chance that offers a reward, said Charles Branson, Douglas County district attorney. A conviction for illegal gambling would carry a penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

It’s a case that Branson said he would be obligated to consider should police bring him a report.

But don’t tear up your photocopied form just yet.

“We have scarce resources,” said Branson, who has Illinois and Duke in the national championship game of his own private pool, which he says has nothing at stake other than pride. “We have to apply them appropriately.”

State lawmakers soon could hear about the benefits of office pools. State Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, said that the revenues from such wagering — if regulated — could help fill the state’s widening budget hole for public schools.

“I will suggest that to the (legislative conference) committee as a way to get some money,” said Francisco, who works as a space analyst at Kansas University. “If we’re going to talk about gambling, then let’s start with some money from office pools.”

State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said she didn’t even know such pools were illegal. She’s been filling out brackets for years, usually with the winner getting a meal from the losers or other minimal payoffs.

“The majority of people I know who participate in an office pool do it for fun,” Ballard said. “Nobody’s going to get rich. No one’s going to win a big lottery.”

That’s unless you’re Rick Neuheisel. The former University of Washington football coach — fired in 2003 for participating in a high-stakes office pool on the NCAA Tournament — last week scored a $4.5 million settlement in a wrongful termination suit.

Of that total, $2.5 million comes from the NCAA, the association that vehemently opposes gambling. A national survey of human resource managers found that office pools are present in about 30 percent of companies nationwide.

“I just think we should let people enjoy this. It only happens once a year,” Ballard said. “Let’s just let people have a good time and let them enjoy March Madness.”

Are you headed to Oklahoma City to watch the Jayhawks play? Do you know a rabid Jayhawk fan with a good story to tell? Do you have a certain habit or pair of socks that brings KU good luck?Reporter Terry Rombeck is compiling stories this week about the Jayhawk faithful as KU prepares for the NCAA Tournament and wants to hear from you. Contact him at trombeck@ljworld.com, (785) 832-7145 (work) or (785) 423-0665 (cell).