NCAA may approve student-athletes to bet on pro sports

The NCAA is considering a rule change to allow student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports.

The Division I Administrative Committee adopted the proposal Oct. 8. Divisions II and III must also approve it before it can take effect Nov. 1. 

The change would not lift the ban on wagering related to college sports, nor would it impact restrictions on gambling advertisements and sponsorships during NCAA championships. 

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman, who chairs the Division I Administrative Committee, said the decision does not mean the NCAA supports sports betting. 

“The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers,” Whitman said in a release. “This change allows the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college games while, at the same time, encouraging healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities on professional sports.” 

The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee supported the move, saying it preferred education and transparency over punishment. 

“We believe this change represents meaningful progress toward a culture that prioritizes education, transparency, and support over punishment,” the committee said. “By removing unnecessary barriers, we are hopeful that student-athletes and athletics administrators will feel empowered to come forward, seek help, and engage in open dialogue without fear.” 

Some have raised concerns that some student-athletes personally know professional athletes, including those in the NFL or NBA, which could create additional integrity risks even if they are not betting on college sports. 

The NCAA says it plans to continue its education efforts about problematic gambling. Those efforts include partnerships with EPIC Global Solutions and an e-learning module completed by more than 50,000 student-athletes. 

Dr. Deena Casiero, the NCAA’s chief medical officer, said the association will focus on harm reduction. 

“Abstinence-only approaches to social challenges for college-aged individuals are often not as successful as approaches that focus on education about risks and open dialogue,” Casiero said. “This harm reduction approach gives schools an opportunity to help student-athletes make educated decisions, prevent risky behavior, and seek support without fear of impacting their eligibility.” 

The proposal comes as the NCAA’s enforcement staff continues to handle an increasing number of sports betting violations. Many of those cases involve college athletes wagering on their own sports, and some have included game manipulation. Some athletes have even bet against their own teams, ESPN reported last month.