Honors Scholar Class Project: Wager on the Madness
In the Spring of 2001, the 2002 honors scholar class
teamed with the City of Chicago's Department of Consumer Services to combat
Internet fraud. Students helped investigate allegations of fraud in the
online auction and contract areas of the law. They also built a website
- www.wageronthemadness.com - in order to teach consumers about the dangers
of online betting. The site warned consumers about gambling online, the
dangers of "get quick rich" schemes, and other on-line fraud.
The site was launched on March 12th and targeted March
Madness fans who may have been looking to wager on the NCAA basketball
tournament. The site looked like an Internet gambling site, allowing visitors
to select teams and to wager on the outcome of the games. However, the
site not only taught about fraud on the Internet but also that things
on the Internet are not always as they seem. Instead of actually allowing
users to place bets, the visitors were transferred to pages that warned
of the dangers of online fraud. Visitors were also reminded that gambling
may be illegal in their state.
In the News:
Staff writer, "Law students know the odds on Internet
gambling, fraud," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 13,
2001, 3.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, "Chicago-Kent College
of Law Professor Warns NCAA Fans That Betting Online May Pose Legal, Security
Risks," news release, April 2, 2001.
Reid Kanaley, "Internet promises if you can use
a mouse, you can gamble," The Philadelphia Inquirer,March
17, 2001.
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