The NCAA is considering a change of stance regarding its rules related to gambling.
According to a Sports Illustrated report, the NCAA is discussing the removal of its ban on wagering on professional sports. Last month, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors proposed the rule change leading to the organization’s DI Council to consider the matter.
The board of directors voted 21-1 in favor of adopting bylaws to lift the ban.
The DI Council is planning to discuss the ban removal next week with a potential implementation of the rule change coming as soon as June 2025. The NCAA’s active bylaws regarding sports wagering prohibit betting by all players, coaches and team officials on pro sports that are also played at the collegiate level. The NCAA also bans wagering by players, coaches and team officials on all competitions sponsored by the organization.
The NCAA plans to maintain its current ban on college sports wagering as America’s governing body of amateur sports considers allowing its members to bet on pro sports.
The NCAA is also poised to make changes to its penalties regarding sports wagering.
The board of directors has, “directed the NCAA staff to develop concepts for the appropriate committees to consider regarding a safe harbor, limited immunity or reduced penalties for student-athletes who engage in sports wagering but seek help for problem gambling.” The call for new concepts comes as the NCAA deals with a slew of gambling-related infractions.
NCAA handles flurry of gambling issues
The NCAA has dealt with several gambling-related incidents over the past year.
The University of Georgia reportedly parted ways with a football staffer in July 2024 after he violated NCAA gambling rules by wagering on pro sports. The infraction was considered a Level III violation by the NCAA, which is isolated and not a widespread issue.
The staffer is required to complete a gambling education program if hired by another SEC institution. The school is also required to submit a written monitoring plan for the staffer.
In February, two Fresno State men’s basketball players were dismissed from the team following an investigation by the NCAA into gambling violations. The two players reportedly played in DFS contests based on their own performances for several games. A third Fresno State men’s basketball is under investigation for allegedly wagering on pro sports.
The University of Texas also had a series of gambling-related infractions.
It self-reported five NCAA violations in March caused by two unnamed football players, a person associated with the women’s tennis team, a student assistant and a staff member.
The violations occurred between July 2024 and November 2024 with the five individuals spending a combined $14,885 on daily fantasy sports platform PrizePicks. Texas self-reported the violations after being notified by gambling monitoring platform ProhiBet.
The NCAA’s potential change to allow pro sports betting is set to help the organization streamline its efforts to handle gambling-related infractions. However, it may also draw fair play and responsible gaming concerns as the NCAA bridges its gap with pro sports.
