Could an NCAA rule change allow student-athletes and athletics departments staff members to bet on professional sports this year? Well, the short answer is yes if the rule change is approved by all three divisions.
The NCAA DI Administrative Committee adopted a proposal to permit the rule change effective November 1. Divisions II and III are expected to consider the proposal during their respective meetings later this month. The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also supported the proposed rule change.
“The NCAA Division I SACC supports the deregulation of sports wagering related to professional sports. We believe this change represents meaningful progress toward a culture that prioritizes education, transparency, and support over punishment,” the SACC said in a statement. “…We are hopeful, and expecting, that the NCAA and its membership will meet student-athletes halfway by providing the necessary education, resources, and support systems to ensure well-being and integrity remain at the core of college athletics.”
No matter how things unfold this month, betting on college sports will still be prohibited. This includes sharing information about college competitions with other bettors. The change would also not impact rules prohibiting advertising and sponsorships associated with sports betting for NCAA Championships.
“The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers,” Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and chair of the committee, said. “The change allows the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college games while, at the same time, encouraging healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities in professional sports.”
There have been multiple instances this year that have required the NCAA enforcement staff to further investigate sports betting violations. The press release referenced how the caseload has increased in recent years, but most of the incidents the staff are pursuing involve conduct that directly impacts the integrity of college sports.
The most recent of these investigations was made public last month. It involved alleged sports betting violations against 13 former student-athletes. The case remains open and involves former student-athletes from Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina AT&T, and Mississippi Valley. Red flags were raised concerning student-athletes betting on and against their own teams, sharing information with third parties for purposes of sports betting, and knowingly manipulating scoring or game outcomes.
In a completely separate case, the NCAA permanently banned three Fresno State basketball players. Mykell Robinaon, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver were found guilty of sports betting violations. It centered around Robinson underperforming so that the trio could collect more than $15,000 in winnings.
The NCAA continues to engage in significant efforts to provide educational resources regarding the impact of sports betting. This includes an e-learning module for student-athletes on problem gambling harms and the integrity risks associated with sports betting. So far, more than 50,0000 student-athletes and prospects have watched and completed the module.
The NCAA also continues researching ways to better understand gambling behaviors on college campuses. Data from one survey showed that 67% of college students engage in sports betting on a somewhat regular basis.
“The NCAA will continue to collaborate with schools to help them provide student-athletes with meaningful education and other resources for student-athletes who choose to participate in betting on professional sports,” Dr. Deena Casiero, NCAA chief medical officer said.
“This harm reduction approach gives schools an opportunity to help student-athletes make educated decisions, prevent risky behavior, and seek support without the fear of impacting their eligibility.”
