NCAA May Allow Student-Athletes, Staff Members To Legally Bet On Pro Sports

There is currently a prohibition in place that does not allow college student-athletes and athletics department staff members, under NCAA rules, to bet on professional sports, but that may change as the Division I Administrative Committee has voted to remove that restriction.

The committee adopted a proposal for the lift of the restriction in a recent meeting. Although the decision to allow the prohibition to end, it does not affect the students and staff not being allowed to share information about college competitions with other bettors.

The rule will only go into effect if the proposal is also approved by the Divisions II and III committees. Both divisions have meetings at the end of October to consider the proposal approved by their Division I counterparts. If both divisions agree to the proposal, the rule change will take place Nov. 1.

It was stated that this decision wasn’t made to endorse student-athletes and staff members to bet on sports, but to ease the restrictions placed on them and to allow them “engage in betting activities on professional sports.”

“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,” said Josh Whitman, Illinois athletic director and committee chair in a written statement. “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 rule change is also supported by the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The change was suggested as the caseload involving sports betting has increased for the NCAA enforcement staff that investigates violations among staff members that directly affect the integrity of college sports.