College athletes might be able to bet on pro sports soon.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated, the NCAA is considering a change in gambling policy that would allow athletes to wager on professional sports.
The Division I Board of Directors has begun working to get rid of the rule barring athletes from sports betting on professional events. However, team members and staff would still be prohibited from betting on college athletics.
Vote to Repeal
The Division I Council was expected to discuss the issue this week and could repeal the professional sports betting ban by June. Currently, the ban extends to coaches and staff as well as players. But that will change since the Division I Board voted to repeal that last month by a 21-1 margin.
Board members told the council to “adopt legislation to deregulate the prohibition on wagering on professional sports” and “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.”
The NCAA began reviewing wagering policies in 2023 and officials with the organization have noted that policing gambling on pro sports has hampered university compliance offices for infractions that usually only incur small penalties.
Growing Number of Betting Scandals
The possible policy change comes after professional and college athletes have been involved in wagering-related controversies.
In February, the Fresno State and University of New Orleans basketball teams both held multiple players out of games as investigations began regarding possible violations of the NCAA gambling policy.
A Temple basketball game was flagged for suspicious gambling activity and other basketball programs may have been targeted over the last two years, according to ESPN. In 2023, now-former University of Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon lost his job after giving inside information to a bettor who wanted to wager against the Crimson Tide.
The NCAA has also reported athletes facing increased scrutiny from fans in recent years in regard to performance affecting betting. The organization has pushed states and the federal government to ban prop betting on college athletes.
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