NCAA may allow college student-athletes to bet on pro sports

Key Points:

• The NCAA is considering lifting the ban on college athletes betting on professional sports.

• New rules would still prohibit bets on college games and insider info sharing.

• The NCAA’s potential shift is motivated by a goal to streamline enforcement efforts – police wagering that directly threatens the college athletics product.

————

There is potential for a major philosophical shift in collegiate athletics – according to a report in SI, the NCAA is seriously considering removing its long-standing ban on college student-athletes, coaches and staff betting on professional sports. The Division I Board of Directors recently voted 21-1 in favor of directing the NCAA Division I Council to adopt legislation that would deregulate this prohibition. The council is discussing this week, and if they are in favor, the ban removal could be in effect by late June.

If the professional sports betting ban is removed, it would represent a fundamental change in how the NCAA views the activity, personal freedoms and enforcement priorities. If implemented, however, the rule change would still ban collegiate athletes, coaches and staff members from wagering on college sports. 

The proposal comes at a time when legalized sports gambling has become synonymous with everyday life for many Americans, especially college-aged adults. Sports betting is legally launched in 38 states, plus Washington D.C., and two-thirds of all college students have reported placing a sports bet in the past year. As the prevalence of gambling grows, so does the complexity of enforcing rules.

The proposed change raises difficult questions: What risks does it carry? What message does it send to young athletes? And what impact might it have on ongoing issues around gambling addiction, game integrity and athlete well-being?

What are the current NCAA rules around sports betting? 

Currently, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members from betting on any sport that the NCAA sponsors, including major pro leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA and ATP.

Importantly, these restrictions don’t just apply to placing bets. NCAA guidelines also prohibit trading of inside information that could influence bets or outcomes, even if the person providing that information isn’t wagering themselves. That means an athlete can't tip off a friend about an injury or game strategy, even in casual conversation, without violating NCAA policy. 

If the looming proposition is passed, restricting the dissemination of such information could easily become a headache for the professional league dealing with incoming players who previously had the green light to bet on that league in college, and dealing with pro players leaking information to college players, coaches or staff that they have relationships with.

This ban was originally designed to protect the integrity of collegiate athletics and shield athletes from the corrupting influence of gambling. But with gambling now deeply embedded in the broader sports ecosystem, the NCAA’s rigid stance has led to an increasing number of enforcement challenges.

Why would the NCAA lift the current ban on college student-athletes betting on professional sports?

The rationale behind the proposed policy shift is both cultural and practical. Culturally, the stigma once associated with sports betting has faded. It’s now widely accepted and even normalized among fans, media and players alike. For college athletes, coaches and staff living in states where betting is legal, the idea that they can't place a bet on the Super Bowl or the NBA Finals feels increasingly disconnected from reality.

Practically, the NCAA is drowning in enforcement cases that often involve minor or low-stakes bets by athletes who may not have even realized they were breaking the rules. In many instances, infractions involve small wagers or friendly bets that don’t threaten the integrity of games or competitions. Yet each case still requires time, investigation and discipline, which taxes NCAA enforcement staff and university compliance departments.

By lifting the ban on betting on professional sports, the NCAA can streamline and reallocate its limited enforcement resources toward protecting college sports from more serious threats like point-shaving, game-fixing and prop bet manipulation.

Matt Banker, a college athletics consultant and former NCAA administrator, put it bluntly: “Is it risky to gamble on an individual level? Of course. Is pro sports gambling by a college athlete or coach the biggest threat to college athletics? It’s not.”

When forwarded to the D-1 Council, the Division I Board of Directors “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.”

In addition, it may be easier for monitoring technology to notice and flag prohibited bets if the college athletes are using regulated platforms (where betting on pro sports would be allowed) instead of on unregulated, unmonitored ones such as offshores or bookie sites. 

Worried about your betting? Connect with Birches Health today by clicking here, calling 833-483-3838 or emailing help@bircheshealth.com

Recent sports betting scandals in college athletics 

Despite the potential relaxation of rules around pro sports betting, there’s no question that gambling has already caused significant disruption across college athletics.

In 2023, a wide-ranging scandal rocked Iowa and Iowa State after more than 40 athletes were found to have placed illegal bets, including on their own teams. Some of the players had used accounts under family members’ names to try and hide their activity. Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers reportedly placed over 300 bets, including 26 on Iowa State games.

At the University of Alabama, head baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired for orchestrating a bet against his own team. Knowing his star pitcher would be unavailable just before a game, Bohannon tipped off a friend to place a $100,000 wager on LSU, Alabama’s opponent. The bet was flagged and rejected, but the incident led to swift termination.

Notre Dame’s men’s swim team faced one of the most sweeping disciplinary actions in recent memory in 2024. The entire program was suspended for at least one year after it was discovered that most of the team was involved in betting, including wagers on individual swim times and team events, essentially operating their own internal sportsbook.

In March 2024, a suspicious betting pattern led to an investigation into a Temple University basketball game, where betting lines shifted rapidly before tipoff. It was later found by the FBI that guard Hysier Miller allegedly bet on Temple men's basketball games using an account associated with his name. He had transferred to Virginia Tech the following season but was kicked off the team once the evidence was presented. 

These scandals underscore just how easily betting, especially when involving insider knowledge, can threaten the fairness and integrity of college sports.

Problem Gambling treatment for college students

As the NCAA weighs this major rule change, it must balance the desire for streamlined enforcement with its responsibility to protect student-athletes. While betting on pro sports may not directly compromise college game integrity, it still opens the door to risky behaviors and difficult ethical questions.

An estimated 6% of college students meet the criteria for a serious gambling problem, and far more exhibit some at-risk betting behaviors. The excitement of betting, combined with the ubiquity of apps and the influence of peers, can lead young individuals into dangerous territory.

Birches Health is a telehealth-based program that offers accessible, evidence-based treatment for gambling and sports betting addiction. Whether someone is concerned about their own behavior or worried about a teammate or friend, Birches provides confidential support from the comfort of home.

College students can take a free self-assessment to better understand whether their gambling is becoming problematic. Family members, coaches and peers can also make anonymous referrals through the Birches website.

Birches’ licensed clinicians use proven behavioral therapies to help individuals build healthier relationships with risk and regain control. For student-athletes who may be struggling with the pressure of performance, injury or financial uncertainty, gambling may feel like a distraction or escape, but it can quickly spiral.

If you or someone you care about may be struggling with gambling, Birches Health can help:

• Book an appointment 

• Call 833-483-3838

• Email help@bircheshealth.com