The NCAA could be set for a huge change as it considers lifting the ban on students betting on pro sports.
Sports Illustrated is reporting there is momentum building toward the NCAA removing its ban against gambling on professional sports.
What Are The NCAA’s Rules On Gambling?
As it stands, student-athletes and coach or athletics staff members are not allowed to use online casinos to wager on intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competitions that are also played at NCAA level.
That includes football, basketball, hockey, baseball, golf and tennis for example – so betting on the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB is outlawed.
They can still use online sports betting apps to wager on horse racing, boxing, MMA or cricket.
Those who are found to have violated NCAA rules are at risk of various penalties including partial to permanent losses of eligibility.
Some rules vary by state – in Tennessee, it’s a misdemeanor for any NCAA athlete to bet on sports – while in Virginia the rule is specific to bets on ‘any event in a league in which such a person participates.’
In Kentucky, it’s illegal for athletes to bet on events in which they participate but also a misdemeanor for ‘spouses and family members’ to bet on those events too.
NCAA Board Of Directors Votes 21-1 In Favor Of Lifting Ban
The NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors laid the groundwork for a rule change last month and if the council is in favor, we could see the change happen as early as late June.
There is believed to be a safe harbor, limited immunity or reduced penalties put in place for athletes who engage in sports betting and support measures will be offered for those who ‘seek help for problem gambling.’
Last year, former LSU wide receiver and current New England Patriot Kayshon Boutte was charged with felony computer fraud and misdemeanor underage gambling while playing in college.
The number of NCAA investigations into prohibited and underage betting has almost doubled each year but this is the first positive step in tackling a pressing issue.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable sports and gambling websites. Joe has also been published by Nottingham Forest, working with the academy and senior teams to produce content on matchdays. He formerly covered the Premier League and EFL as an on-site reporter during the 2020/21 season for Prost International. He is an expert in a range of sports including soccer, basketball, horse racing and American football. Joe specialises in long form content alongside news, tips and betting.
