The NCAA is considering removing its ban on student-athletes betting on professional sports, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.
The Division I Board of Directors previously voted 21-1 in favor of the proposal, which would allow student-athletes to bet on leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
The measure was advanced to the Division I Council. If approved, the restriction could potentially be lifted by the end of June.
Ban on college sports bets would remain
The NCAA strongly prohibits sports betting of any kind from its student-athletes. Infractions can result in mandatory training, suspension, or a partial or complete loss of eligibility for both men and women in any sport.
“NCAA rules ban participation in sports betting activities and prohibit providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports betting activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition,” the NCAA’s website reads.
“In other words, if you are a student-athlete, coach or athletics staff member, regardless of sport or division, you are not allowed to bet or provide any useful information that can influence a bet in any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.”
Forde said the ban on betting on college sports would remain in place even if the professional betting prohibition is removed.
The board also encouraged the NCAA to rework its handling of student-athletes who sought help for problem gambling or self-reported after participating in sports betting.
No advantages are currently afforded to student-athletes who turn themselves in. Penalties are implemented based on a tiered system related to the amount of money wagered by the athlete.
Narrowing the focus
The NCAA has long been afraid of the nefarious interference that could result from sports betting. Several scandals, such as those at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, the University of New Orleans, and Fresno State led to suspensions and losses of eligibility for a variety of infractions.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has also campaigned against the availability of college player prop bets at legal sportsbooks. His encouragement prompted several state regulators to remove these markets from their available catalog, though college player prop bets are still available in 19 states and Washington D.C.
"[Sports betting is] a serious threat to the well-being of our student-athletes and to the integrity of NCAA competition,” the NCAA rulebook reads.
Times may be changing for the NCAA, however.
The organization recently agreed to share its postseason data with sports data technology company Genius Sports through 2032. This partnership will give Genius up-to-the-minute data to use for legal sports betting and also help strengthen the protections against irresponsible and questionable betting patterns.
Allowing the NCAA to focus purely on preventing and addressing college-level gambling could simplify the task of preserving its integrity.
It remains to be seen how professional leagues would handle college-turned-professional athletes who bet on their league while they were in college.