NCAA athletes and staff will no longer be allowed to bet on professional sports, as the organization reversed a recent rule change that would have allowed such betting. This decision comes after various high-profile gambling scandals raised serious concerns about the integrity of both college and professional sports.
In late October, an NBA coach and a player faced arrests linked to extensive gambling operations. Additionally, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused of using insider knowledge to influence bets on NBA games. The NCAA has recently revoked the eligibility of six men’s basketball players due to similar betting allegations, including former Temple guard Hysier Miller, who reportedly placed numerous bets on games involving his own team.
Originally, the rule permitting gambling on professional sports was set to take effect on November 1. However, under a seldom-used rule, each Division I school was given a 30-day period to vote against the proposal since it was passed with less than 75% approval from the Division I cabinet. With more than two-thirds of Division I member schools voting against the rule, it has now been canceled.
It’s important to note that even if the rule had been approved, athletes and staff would have still been prohibited from betting on NCAA events. The vote to rescind this gambling policy also applies to Divisions II and III, both of which will continue restricting betting on professional sports.
Concerns about gambling have increased, especially after Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey communicated unease over the original rule change to NCAA President Charlie Baker. Despite some support within the Division I cabinet, the tide of opinion shifted against allowing pro sports betting.
With enforcement cases regarding sports betting violations on the rise—currently over a dozen cases are under investigation—the NCAA’s decision reflects a commitment to maintaining the integrity of college athletics.
