The idea of NCAA student-athletes and athletic department staff members being permitted to bet on pro sports is being examined by Congress. Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker regarding concerns about the Association changing its sports betting policy.
The five-page letter was also signed by Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
The full letter is available online. The Committee has concerns regarding the timing of the policy change. Here’s an excerpt from what the letter is about:
“The timing of the NCAA’s decision to allow student-athlete and staff participation in professional sports betting raises questions about sports betting and integrity of sport in the NCAA.”
November 1 was the original date the policy change was supposed to become effective. The official announcement came last month after the Division II and III management councils approved the proposal that was adopted by the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee. The start date has since been pushed back to November 22.
Even though betting on college sporting events is still prohibited under the new policy, there are still some who believe the pro sports betting rule change is a bad idea.
Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey has been the most vocal to the NCAA, and his comments appear in the letter. He urged the NCAA to rescind the policy change, citing the importance of “keeping collegiate sports participants separated from sports wagering activity at every level.”
The Committee’s letter also highlighted that during the October 13th conference meeting the message “was clear and united: this policy change represents a major step in the wrong direction.”
The policy change is also coming on the heels of the Committee’s letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding the gambling scandal in which the FBI made several arrests. The letter to Baker, like the one to Silver, concludes with a briefing request to answer several questions.
The NCAA enforcement staff is currently dealing with investigating potential sports betting violations against 13 former student-athletes. Student-athletes previously associated with Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina AT&T, and Mississippi Valley are part of the ongoing cases. However, the NCAA has yet to publicly share any names.
The Committee is requesting that Baker and the NCAA submit the briefing by November 13. It’s seeking answers to nine questions, including:
