The NCAA is continuing to protect its student-athletes from gambling harm.
The governing body of college sports has launched Draw the Line, a campaign aimed at educating student-athletes on the effects of sports betting. The campaign, which debuted during the start of March Madness, will also address problem gambling.
“Sports betting is everywhere, especially on college campuses, so it’s critical student-athletes get the real story about how it can impact them and their ability to play,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes and officials, so that’s why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement.”
The NCAA’s new campaign comes during the governing body’s most profitable event, March Madness. The three-week men’s and women’s tournament will see the NCAA generate approximately $1 billion in revenue, which is roughly 85% of its annual revenue.
Draw the Line has launched as the American Gaming Association estimates that Americans will wager $2.72 billion on March Madness through regulated sportsbooks over the next two weeks. The figure would be a 2.2% increase compared to 2023’s tournament.
By comparison, Super Bowl LVIII saw Americans wager $1.4 billion on the Big Game.
NCAA addressing sports betting in the past
Earlier this year, Baker announced that the NCAA is working with the NFL to update educational materials on sports betting for college coaches and student-athletes.
The NCAA is also partnering with Signify Group on a study about the gambling industry.
Last month, the NCAA was integral in Ohio joining the list of states to prohibit individual college player props. The Ohio Casino Control Commission announced that Buckeye State will join more than 20 other jurisdictions across America that have banned college player props following a request from Gov. Mike DeWine and the NCAA.
In 2023, Ohio bettors wagered $104.6 million on player props out of a $7.6 billion total sports betting handle. The player props generated $12 million in revenue for operators.
