With March Madness already upon us, people in offices, dorm floors and classrooms are jumping into pools all over the country, especially at MSU.

Brackets have been filled out all over campus and groups sprung up seemingly everywhere.

English sophomore David Janisse is participating in two pools this year, one with his family that he does every year, and one with a group of about a dozen friends.

"It's just for fun," Janisse said. "It makes the games more interesting to watch, more exciting."

Janisse, who is paying $5 for each pool, doesn't think there is any harm in wagering money.

"It's a measly $5, and it makes it more exciting," Janisse said.

An NCAA bracket group on Thefacebook Web site had 499 members as of 2 p.m. Sunday.

But, according to the NCAA, because of the gambling association, even these pools are reason for concern.

"Though the $1 pools represent a smaller issue in the larger scope of concern, also keep in mind that most forms of gambling are illegal with the exception of what takes place in Las Vegas," said Gail Dent, associate director for NCAA public relations, in a statement.

According to the NCAA Web site, the association "opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering."

There also are many gambling Web sites, where, with a couple clicks of the button, major money is spent on tournament games.

America Online and CBS Sportsline also are offering $1 million for a perfectly filled out bracket, and ESPN has multiple prizes for the best-filled brackets.

And although some forms of gambling are legal, or at least for the most part harmless, one thing the NCAA won't mess around with is college athletes or anyone working in college athletics placing bets on games.

A survey done by the NCAA last year showed that 17 percent of male athletes in Division I sports bet on college sports and that more than 2 percent of basketball players were asked to influence the outcome of a game because of gambling debts.

"In regard to our athletics membership and more specifically, student-athletes, any wagering on collegiate athletics is a violation of our bylaws," Dent said.

NCAA bylaws say that staff members of the athletics department and student-athletes cannot knowingly:

• Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition

• Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team

• Accept a bet on any team representing the institution

• Solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item that has tangible value

• Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics.

According to the NCAA, these rules are in place to be straightforward about its stance on gambling.

"We don't want to send any mixed messages in terms of our rules," Dent said. "Our goal is to send a clear message that we want zero tolerance when it comes to betting on college sports."