NCAA May Open Pro Sports Betting to College Players

The NCAA is allegedly considering a radical reversal of its stance on sports wagering. This would allow players, coaches, and staff members to bet on professional sports. Currently, NCAA rules prohibit this type of wagering if the sport is governed by the NCAA. 

But that prohibition may soon be lifted, according to Sports Illustrated.

On April 21, the Division I Board of Directors voted 21–1 to recommend moving forward on the proposal to the Division I Council. If endorsed by the Council, the change could be implemented as early as late June.

Despite this potential change, the NCAA remains intent on banning all betting on collegiate athletics. Representatives who have learned of the plan have said restrictions on gambling based on college sports will persist. The organization is also crafting additional policy concepts, such as lighter sanctions or safe harbor options for college players who bet on athletics and seek assistance.

The move is a part of an overall review begun two years ago, in response to the rapid legalization of sports betting across the U.S. Now that gambling is legal in most states, especially the large college states, it is more challenging to uphold the present regulations. 

Compliance offices at the universities and the NCAA have been overwhelmed with cases involving eligibility and rule-breaking, many of which are minor professional gambling infractions. 

Implausible Controllability

As college athletics advisor Matt Banker has noted, it would be essentially impossible to monitor each instance of professional betting by hundreds of players and staff members. He suggests that NCAA dollars are better spent counteracting more pressing dangers to the integrity of college sports, such as point shaving and game fixing.

Should the policy change be approved, the NCAA would focus its enforcement resources more directly on threats most directly implicating college competitions. These are performance manipulation schemes, which increasingly threaten to become a concern as the financial stakes in college sports expand. The change would also increase the NCAA's ability to protect its games and athletes from the influence of the gambling market.

Current investigations reaffirm the necessity of this policy adjustment. Federal authorities and the NCAA are conducting probes into cases of suspected men's collegiate basketball game-fixing. These investigations accelerated after former NBA player Jontay Porter's associates were arrested on charges of intentionally altering their performance for gambling gain.