NCAA Reportedly Considering Revising Sports Betting Policy for Athletes

• According to Sports Illustrated, the NCAA is considering removing its prohibition on betting on professional sports for athletes and coaches
• The outlet reported the NCAA Division I Board of Directors moved the rule change forward last month
• Sports Betting Dime reported last year the NCAA was considering a repeal of the ban

According to reports from Sports Illustrated, the NCAA is considering the removal of a ban that prohibits collegiate athletes, coaches, and training staff to bet on professional sports.

The outlet reported the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved the groundwork for the rule change last month and has since forwarded the plan to the D-I council for further discussion. If approved, Sports Illustrated reported this could be fast-tracked into existence by June.

Sports Betting Dime reported on this possibility in May 2024, when Mark Hicks, managing director of enforcement for the NCAA, said the NCAA started discussions with its three division leaders to evaluate its sports betting policy and if the policy should be “liberalized.”

Allowing Athletes to Bet on Professional Sports

Sports Illustrated reported the D-I board voted 21-1 in favor of directing the council to adopt legislation to “deregulate the prohibition on wagering on professional sports.” If approved, collegiate athletes, coaches, and training staff members for D1 programs will be able to bet on professional sports, but the prohibition on betting on NCAA sports will still remain.

It would mark a massive change to the NCAA sports betting policy for student athletes. As it currently stands, athletes face potentially stiff penalties from the NCAA if found betting on college or professional sports, which could lead to permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in the most harshest of cases. Other penalties are determined by the amount bet on professional sports and what type of bet, or on what team, is made on college sports.

However, sports betting is now legal in 40 states and more accepted then when the NCAA devised its original gambling policies.

The NCAA modernized its sports betting policies in June 2023, as reinstatement guidelines for student-athletes found participating in sports betting (but not on their own school) were made more lenient. The previous guidelines recommended student-athletes lose one full season of collegiate eligibility if they were found participating in any form of sports betting.

The previous guidelines were established before widespread legalization of sports betting in 2018.

Dating Back to Last Year

An NCAA representative noted during last year’s SBC Summit North America that a discussion would take place regarding a prospective change to its sports betting policy.

Hicks, the managing director of enforcement for the NCAA, revealed last May the NCAA would look at its sports betting policy to determine “whether or not our rule is in the right place.” A major part of the evaluation, he noted, would be a discussion evaluating the sports betting policy for student athletes and team staff members.

“And the second part of this year will be a discussion about, should it be liberalized? Should student athletes and athletic staff be allowed to bet on professional sports, college sports…whatever it is that conversation will take place the rest of this year and we’ll see where it goes,” Hicks said.

As Sports Illustrated reported, it seems these discussions have indeed taken place, which would align them with the timeline Hicks reported.

At the time, the NCAA did not provide any concrete details to Sports Betting Dime about the potential discussion. An NCAA spokesperson said it evaluates all of its policies on an ongoing basis, but provided no other information and declined an interview request with Hicks.

“The NCAA engages in discussions with all three divisions to review rules and policies on an ongoing basis. As the sports betting environment evolves and additional data is gathered, the Association will continue to seek feedback from members to assess any necessary rule changes or modifications,” the spokesperson said.