The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is considering a proposal that could allow athletes and college employees to place bets on professional sports.
The idea is to focus oversight on college sports betting and conduct that could compromise the integrity of the competitions. The Division I Council has submitted the proposal and will evaluate it in the coming months. In order to take effect, it also needs the approval of Divisions II and III.
College betting remains banned
Even with the possible change, the NCAA maintains the ban on betting on college sports and sharing information about these events with bettors. It also remains prohibited from advertising or sponsoring related to betting during championships organized by the entity.
The move comes amid the expansion of legalized gambling in the United States. NCAA President Charlie Baker, along with other college sports leaders, has expressed concern about the attacks athletes have been facing on social media. Some programs have also faced accusations related to gambling, including this year.
The organization said that in recent years it has resolved “several violations related to sports betting by team members at NCAA schools.” In addition, the enforcement team is working on ongoing cases, issuing formal citations.
On the other hand, the NCAA recognizes the challenges of preventing adult athletes from betting on professional leagues. Starting in 2022, the rules for reinstatement have become more flexible. The association also signed a contract with Genius Sports, which provides official NCAA data to licensed operators, with a clause that prohibits negative bets.
Illinois athletics director and board chairman Josh Whitman said: “The NCAA rules prohibiting sports betting at all levels were written and adopted at a time when sports betting was largely illegal across the country.
As sports betting has become more widely accepted across the country, Division I members have found that further discussion of these sports betting rules is warranted, particularly as it relates to potential distinctions between betting on professional and college sports.”
NCAA Betting Rules
Current rules prohibit betting on any sport with an NCAA championship. If an athlete bets on his or her own team, he or she could be banned from college sports for good.
Jon Duncan, NCAA vice president of enforcement, said: “The enforcement team’s sports betting caseload has increased significantly in recent years. Our team — including our new Sports Betting Integrity Unit — has been effective in detecting and prosecuting violations.”
The NCAA’s chief medical officer, Dra. Deena Casiero, advocated a more realistic approach. For her, allowing betting on professional sports could be more effective than a policy of outright prohibition.
According to Casiero, “By meeting student-athletes where they are, schools can be more effective in preventing, identifying and supporting student-athletes with problematic gambling behaviors.”
