The NCAA recently held a discussion on sports betting policies and concluded that prohibitions on gambling are “ineffective” at preventing unwanted gambling behaviors.
The college athletics association’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) held an informational discussion on the topic in recent days.
Committee members met in Indianapolis to discuss the possible deregulation of sports betting, which could allow student-athletes to bet on professional sports. The membership requested initial feedback from CSMAS on the health, safety and well-being considerations involved with deregulation.
The CMSAS discussion assessed several specific questions:
- Do policy prohibitions work to prevent gambling disorders?
- Have current NCAA prohibitions prevented sports betting by student-athletes?
- What are the most effective strategies for preventing problem or disordered gambling?
- What makes for effective educational programs for the prevention of problem or disordered gambling?
Among the conclusions was that “there is little evidence to suggest that current prohibitions have effectively prevented student-athlete gambling.”
Initial feedback from CSMAS emphasized that harm-reduction strategies, including prevention, identification and treatment, rather than prohibitions could be the best way forward to combat problem gambling among students and student-athletes.
The chatter comes against the backdrop of all three NCAA divisions discussing possible modifications to their sports betting policies. Currently, NCAA student-athletes are not permitted to bet on professional, intercollegiate or other amateur competition in any sport that the NCAA sponsors. Those who are found to have violated NCAA rules are subject to various penalties, which can include partial to permanent losses of eligibility.
CSMAS will continue its discussion of the topic in the coming weeks.
NCAA has called for prohibition in past, education campaigns continue
While the NCAA research looked into the behavior of student-athletes, it did not broach the topic of bettor harassment, something the organization has been speaking out against regularly over the past year. The NCAA has continually advocated for prohibitions on betting on college sports in the regulated market.
President Charlie Baker issued a statement back in March urging all states that have legalized sports betting to prohibit individual prop bets for college athletics events, noting that these bets not only lead to athlete harassment but threaten the integrity of competition.
Several states took up his call and implemented bans on college prop bets. Louisiana banned sportsbooks from offering prop bets on college athletics starting Aug. 1, joining Vermont, Ohio and Maryland in implementing a blanket ban on those types of wagers on NCAA games.
The Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE) Bet Act introduced last month by Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal includes a provision to prohibit college player prop bets at a federal level.
Meanwhile, education work regarding the interaction between college sports and betting continues from institutions, regulators, operators and other stakeholders. The NCAA launched its Draw the Line campaign that aims to educate student-athletes on the effects of sports betting while also addressing problem gambling for all who consume and participate in college sports.
Last month, the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), made up of eight leading sports betting operators, unveiled a new national college responsible gambling education campaign in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the Toronto-based Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).
