The NCAA is postponing a rule change to allow gambling on professional sports as the matter receives pushback from key stakeholders across college sports.
The national governing body of college sports is delaying a rule change to allow pro sports gambling from Nov. 1 to Nov. 22, allowing DI membership institutions to vote on the issue.
NCAA recession period kicks in
The NCAA allows Division I institutions to vote whether to rescind an approved rule change within 30 days if a rule proposal doesn’t receive at least 75% of votes from the DI Board. The board voted to adopt the proposal, but with less than 75% of the votes.
Nov. 22 is one day after the NCAA closes a membership rescission period. At least two-thirds or more of the institutions need to vote against the rule change for it to be rescinded. In order for a rule change to be implemented, councils from DII and DIII must also approve a rule proposal. The proposal was initially approved by DII and DIII councils.
Potential rule change garners support from RG org
The NCAA previously prohibited sports betting by all student-athletes, coaches and team officials on events sponsored by the organization, including pro sports competitions. The organization is maintaining its ban on college sports wagering and sharing gambling-related information with third parties and plans to continue providing gambling education.
The rule change received support from the DI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) as it offers support and transparency.
“The National Council on Problem Gambling supports the NCAA’s effort to modernize its student-athlete sports betting policy to reduce stigma around seeking help for gambling problems. Strict prohibitions on legal activities often have the unintended consequence of driving gambling behavior underground and discouraging student-athletes from reaching out for help if they develop a gambling problem,” said the NCPG. “The NCPG recognizes that the prior NCAA policy actively discouraged a student-athlete from seeking help should they develop a gambling problem. The revised policy creates opportunities for students to speak openly about their gambling behavior, enabling access to help when needed.”
Gambling rule change also receives pushback
The proposed rule change to allow pro sports betting is receiving backlash from leadership in college sports, including SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Earlier this week, Sankey sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker requesting that the rule change be rescinded.
“If there are legal or practical concerns about the prior policy, those should be addressed through careful refinement—not through wholesale removal of the guardrails that have long supported the integrity of games and the well-being of those who participate,” said Sankey.
Pittsburgh football head coach Pat Narduzzi also voiced his opposition to the change.
“It’s absolutely one of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever seen,” said Narduzzi at a weekly press conference earlier this week “First of all, it’s a habit. It’s no different than smoking, drinking, doing drugs, it’s a bad habit. I don’t think anyone here encourages you guys to go out drinking and getting smashed on a Friday night or Saturday night, or at a ball game.”
NCAA’s recent gambling woes
The opportunity to wager on pro sports comes as the NCAA handles betting infractions.
Last month, the NCAA announced an investigation into 13 former men’s college basketball players who competed across six institutions. The probe found evidence of potential violations that include student-athletes wagering on or against their own teams.
The investigation also found evidence of sharing gambling-related information with third parties. The probe included former student-athletes at Eastern Michigan, who failed to comply with the NCAA’s investigation into their potential sports wagering violations.
The players are no longer enrolled at Eastern Michigan and have no remaining collegiate eligibility and faced potential permanent ineligibility after suspicious wagers were flagged.
The bets were flagged by Integrity Compliance 360, leading to a notification to the NCAA.
Three former Fresno State basketball players were also investigated for sports betting infractions, leading to a permanent NCAA ban for manipulating their performances.
The violations were self-reported by Fresno State men’s basketball coach Vance Walberg.
