NCAA Calls For 21-and-Older Sports Betting Age, Harsher Punishments for Harassers

• The NCAA announced they will be advocating for 21-and-older sports betting ages for all states with pending legislation
• The Association is stumping for harsher punishment for individuals found harassing student-athletes over sports betting losses
• Calling for states to develop a list of individuals who cannot bet on collegiate athletics

The NCAA is hoping to take steps to help protect student-athletes, coaches, game officials and college sports personnel from harassment and problem gambling as sports betting continues to expand throughout the country.

With several states still considering sports betting legislation, the NCAA noted it hopes to meet with lawmakers and politicians to ensure those under the age of 21 cannot participate in the activity, and individuals found harassing student-athletes over sports betting losses cannot bet on collegiate sports.

“The NCAA is making changes to help student-athletes make smart choices when it comes to sports betting, but given the explosive growth of this new industry, we are eager to partner with lawmakers, regulators and industry leaders to protect student-athletes from harassment and threats,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a press release.

Sports Betting Must Be 21 and Older

The NCAA is advocating for states with pending sports betting legislation to ensure its legalized sports betting age is 21 or older. Only a handful of states in the country allow for individuals 18 and older to bet on sports, including the recently launched Kentucky sports betting program.

The association also called for revenue generated from sports betting to be allocated in part toward education to support the college student population, including student athletes.

“We are in a time where student-athlete health and well-being is the main priority,” said Morgyn Wynne, vice chair of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “With the legalization of sports betting, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to protecting student-athletes from the potential of negative engagement with bettors. Thirty-eight states have clearly passed 38 different laws, but one thing that needs to be consistent across all is prioritizing the student-athlete experience and preventing harmful activity that jeopardizes the integrity of sports.”

Harsher Penalties for Harassers

In order to protect student-athletes from harassment on social media or in public, the NCAA is calling for mandatory reporting hotlines for gambling authorities to report harassment to law enforcement, increased penalties for bettors who harass athletes, and mandatory education for operators to help identify harassment.

Regulators and gaming commissions need to establish and develop a system to monitor for harassment or coercive behavior from sports bettors, according to the NCAA.

“Some states have great policies on the books to protect student-athletes from harassment and coercion and to protect the integrity of the games, but as more states pass or amend laws, more needs to be done,” Baker said.

The Ohio legislature recently addressed sports betting harassment, as legislators adopted a new provision in state’s approved 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The provision allows state regulators to permanently ban or place sports bettors on an exclusion list if they’re found to be harassing or threatening athletes over a sporting event.

It was the first such provision ever approved in a state with legalized sports betting.

Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler called for this type of penalty back in January after he became aware of several incidents of state bettors threatening members of the University of Dayton’s men’s basketball team.