The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is reportedly on the brink of a significant policy shift that would lift the long-standing wagering prohibition on professional sports by athletes, coaches, and staff. A 21-1 vote by the Division I Board of Directors has moved a proposal forward to the D-I Council for further discussion to “adopt legislation to deregulate the prohibition on wagering on professional sports.” If the proposal passes through the D-I Council, official updates could reportedly surface as soon as next month.
According to Sports Illustrated, which quoted multiple sources, there is momentum for allowing those with direct NCAA ties to betting on professional sports. The NCAA did not immediately respond to a media inquiry from SiGMA News. As per the SI, the board has “directed the NCAA staff to develop concepts for the appropriate committees to consider regarding a safe harbor, limited immunity or reduced penalties for student-athletes who engage in sports wagering but seek help for problem gambling.” However, the current ban on betting on college sports would remain unaffected if the D-1 Council votes in favor of the proposal.
What is the current scenario?
Currently, athletes, coaches and staff members are not allowed to wager on professional sports that also are sponsored by the NCAA. This includes football, basketball, hockey, baseball, golf and tennis. The US sports betting landscape has changed dramatically since the NCAA’s review of sports wagering policies, which began in 2023. In 2018, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports gambling.
As legalised gambling spread like wildfire in the country, it has become increasingly difficult to police and enforce applicable NCAA rules in some areas. NCAA Enforcement and university compliance staff has been bogged down by the proliferation of eligibility and infrastructure cases involving pro sports. These usually are ruled out to be minor cases with small penalties.
Shift from historical stance
While the intercollegiate athletics watchdog has historically kept its distance from sports gambling, now, the organisation appears to be adapting to a rapidly evolving sports landscape—seeking new revenue streams. The NCAA previously often spoke out about the potential negative impact of sports betting on college athletes. In the latest move that signals a major shift in the organisation’s cautious stance toward the legal betting industry, the NCAA said it will begin selling live data from its championship events to sportsbooks nationwide through an expanded partnership with Genius Sports.
A few months ago, a growing federal investigation into illegal sports betting shook college basketball, with multiple programmes now under scrutiny for potential game manipulation. The scandal, initially linked to NBA betting activities, expanded to the collegiate level, raising concerns about the integrity of college sports. At least three NCAA men’s basketball programmes—Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, and North Carolina A&T—were involved in the probe, according to quoting unnamed sources. Authorities are examining suspicious betting patterns on games involving these teams, suggesting that players or individuals connected to these programmes may have engaged in point-shaving or game-fixing.
