IntroductionDepending on which source you believe is the most reliable, illegal gambling in the United States involves anywhere from $80 to $580 billion per year. Most evidence points to the involvement of organized crime in this situation, but, contrary to popular belief, organized crime is not only Italian, but includes French, Russian, German, Japanese and Chinese gangs. This article will analyze the situation of organized crime in sports by discussing: A) Scope of the problem, B) History, C) Control of organized crime, D) Can it be controlled? Scope of the Problem America is a sports-loving nation, and there is strong fan support for many different types of teams: baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Gambling on the outcome of sporting events, however, is not a uniquely American institution, as history records gambling on races as far back as 2,500 years ago. In the introduction to this article, a range of $80 to $580 billion is mentioned as the scope. of illegal sports gambling. The figure above is probably more that of “legal sports gambling”. Despite its popularity, sports betting in America is only legal in Nevada and Oregon. Nevada has 142 legal sportsbooks that allow betting on professional and amateur sports, while Oregon's program is linked to its lottery and only allows gambling on professional football games with no spreads. The Nevada Gaming Commission reports that sports betting on these books averages between $2 billion and $3 billion annually. One major casino, Tropicana, said that in 2000, betting on amateur events accounted for 33 percent of its accounting revenue. document ......Ates House, Organized crime in sport. United States Congress. House. Select Crime Committee. Organized crime in sport (racing). Auditions. May 9 - July 27, 1972. 1973. 92nd Congress, 2nd Session. Hyde Schedules Hearing on College Sports Gambling, online at http://www.house.gov.judiciary/na061200.htmLloyd, J. (1999, December 20). Godfathers go global: Organized crime has become an international operation, as have law enforcement efforts to fight it, New Statesman, 17Marshall G, Rudd, MR (1996, Spring). Don't bet on it: The portrayal of gambling in baseball cinema, The Southern Communication Journal, 342-356. Noll, R.G., Zimbalist, A. (1997). Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums, Washington, DC: Brookings.Saum, W.S. (1999, July 1). College Sports Gambling: Cracking Down on Illegal Betting, USA Today Magazine, B1.