The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will introduce mandatory sports betting education for student-athletes ahead of the upcoming season. This includes a new training video focused on gambling risks and NCAA rules on wagering. The announcement comes as conference officials respond to the growing concerns with sports betting in college athletics.
The SEC’s latest initiative reflects how quickly the sports betting environment has evolved around college athletics. As legal sportsbooks become more accessible across the country, conference officials are placing a greater emphasis on educating student-athletes about gambling-related risks and compliance requirements.
In announcing the program, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said the conference views athlete protection and integrity as ongoing priorities:
“The Southeastern Conference remains committed to supporting its member institutions and student-athletes through proactive education, monitoring, and resources that promote integrity and protect the student-athlete experience. The rise in sports gambling, including some recent well-documented incidents among college and professional athletics…makes this a high-priority initiative for the Southeastern Conference.”
This will include a mandatory training video provided by each school.
By expanding its educational efforts, the SEC is attempting to ensure athletes understand the risks and responsibilities that come with competing in an era where wagering on sporting events is more widespread than ever.
The mandatory sports betting education video builds on several initiatives the SEC has introduced in recent years to address gambling-related concerns across its schools. Earlier this year, the conference required schools to display sports betting awareness posters in locker rooms and launched an anonymous gambling tip hotline that allows individuals to report suspicious activity.
The SEC has also partnered with integrity monitoring firm IC 360 to track prohibited wagering activity and identify potential threats to competition integrity. In addition, the conference expanded injury availability reporting requirements across football, baseball, and basketball in 2024. This was a move designed to improve transparency and reduce the risk of insider information influencing betting markets.
The new training program ties those efforts together by providing student-athletes with guidance on sports betting rules and integrity reporting procedures.
The SEC’s decision also comes amid increased attention on gambling issues involving college athletes. One of the most notable recent cases involves Brendan Sorsby, who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after placing sports wagers, including bets involving teams he previously played for.
The case has sparked debate about how colleges and governing bodies should address gambling violations. While the NCAA maintains strict rules prohibiting athletes from betting on sports, some administrators have argued that education and prevention should play a larger role alongside enforcement.
For conferences like the SEC, situations such as Sorsby’s demonstrate why proactive education is becoming increasingly important. Many student-athletes are now competing in an environment where sports betting advertisements, sportsbook partnerships, and gambling-related content are widespread.
By providing mandatory training on wagering policies and potential consequences, the SEC hopes to reduce the likelihood of athletes inadvertently violating NCAA rules and facing severe eligibility penalties.
As sports betting continues to expand, cases like Sorsby’s serve as a reminder that even a single violation can have significant consequences for an athlete’s career, reinforcing the SEC’s focus on awareness and compliance.
