Bill to ban lottery advertising in college sports watered down

RALEIGH (AP) -- The NCAA discourages mixing gambling and athletics.

But it's not prohibited, and that's why the North Carolina lottery can advertise and sponsor college sporting events.

The state lottery has spent more than $385,000 on advertising and sponsorships of university sporting events across the state since September.

Now, the arrangements are under scrutiny.

A group of state lawmakers want to limit such advertising from the lottery, and they're supporting a bill that would ban advertising at high school events.

The bill originally sought to ban all advertising at college events, but the House Finance Committee watered down the bill yesterday.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)