08:46 AM EST on Tuesday, March 16, 2004

By JOHN ROMERO / 6NEWS

A lot of people in the area and across the country are betting on basketball, but Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are advising those folks to stay away from the March Madness.

Police said they consider any game of chance illegal. And said if money changes hands on NCAA pools this is considered gambling.

They said it doesn’t matter how much money is at stake. It can be 25 cents to $25,000. It’s all the same.

And they said they’ll investigate gambling if it’s out in the open or there’s a specific complaint.

6NEWS talked to one organizer of an NCAA pool and said he has been doing it for years.

“Usually it’s some money up front and the winner takes all,” he said.

He and his friend really don’t think it’s gambling.

“It’s a risk you are taking with a little … financial reward,” he said. “If it’s just with people you know, it’s OK,” he said.