Shift in NCAA's Approach to Sports Wagering Marks Significant Change
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is set to modernize its approach to sports betting, moving away from strict prohibition towards adapting to the legal sports betting landscape while maintaining a strong focus on fairness and athlete protection.
Currently, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from betting on any college sports, with permanent eligibility loss for betting on their own teams, but allow limited betting on professional sports with penalties scaled by wager size. The NCAA imposes penalties reducing athletes' playing season percentage based on bet amounts, and focuses strong enforcement on college sports betting due to its threat to fairness.
However, a proposed approach under consideration would allow athletes, coaches, and staff to bet on professional sports in states where it is legal, potentially starting with the 2025 football season. The ban on betting on college sports and on athletes' own teams would remain stringent. The NCAA also plans to maintain prohibitions on advertising and sponsorships linked to betting for NCAA championships, reflecting concern about the impact of sports betting culture.
Regarding protection against harassment, the NCAA is actively focusing on eliminating player-specific proposition bets (prop bets) in college competitions, as these increase risks of harassment and threats towards athletes. Some states have already outlawed prop bets on college athletes, and the NCAA advocates for regulatory updates to prevent mental health harms related to such bets. The organization prioritizes maintaining the mental health and well-being of student-athletes, aiming to shield them from abuse potentially stemming from betting environments.
The NCAA has created its first sports betting e-learning module for member athletes. Lessons in the e-learning module are delivered by former student-athletes and cover topics like problem gambling. Under the proposed policies, athletes who wager on sports other than their own games could receive education instead of suspensions for first-time offenses.
West Virginia legislators are expected to consider a similar bill to Ohio's in 2024, which bans wagering for anyone who harasses an athlete, coach, or official. Ohio has already enacted such a law.
Mark Hicks, the NCAA's managing director of enforcement, stated that the organization is reviewing its current penalties for student-athletes who commit wagering violations. The NCAA is also emphasizing protecting athletes' mental health in its approach to sports betting. NCAA President Charlie Baker stated that the creation of the e-learning module is an important step toward modernizing the NCAA's approach to sports wagering.
In summary, the NCAA's stance on sports wagering has shifted from a prohibitionist approach to a more accepting one, balancing the need for fair play with the desire to engage fans and protect athletes. The organization continues to prioritize athlete welfare and is actively working to eliminate harassment and threats towards athletes, coaches, and officials.
- The NCAA is reviewing its penalties for student-athletes who commit wagering violations, with a focus on protecting their mental health.
- The creation of the NCAA's first sports betting e-learning module for member athletes is an important step towards modernizing its approach to sports wagering.
- Under the proposed policies, athletes who wager on sports other than their own games could receive education instead of suspensions for first-time offenses.
- West Virginia legislators are expected to consider a bill similar to Ohio's in 2024, which bans wagering for anyone who harasses an athlete, coach, or official, reflecting a growing concern about potential risks and harms in sports betting culture.
