The NCAA Division II and III management councils approved a measure to rescind a prohibition on wagering. As a result, college athletes and staff members will soon be allowed to wager on professional sports.
The two lower divisions follow the Division I council, which adopted the proposal earlier this month. With all three divisions in agreement, retail and online sports betting can begin on Nov. 1 without facing NCAA violations.
“Our focus remains on education and harm reduction,” Division III Management Council chairman and Wisconsin-Eau Claire athletics director Jason Verdugo said. “we want to make sure our student-athletes understand the boundaries of permissable behavior and the risks that gambling can pose to their well-being and the integrity of college sports.”
College Betting Remains Banned
The new rule comes after university compliance offices faced a growing burden in dealing with betting on pro sports. But most violations only incurred minor penalties.
NCAA officials stressed that the association remained committed to the prohibition of athletes and staff betting on college sports. Sharing information about college competitions with other bettors is still banned as well.
The change also wouldn’t impact rules prohibiting advertising and sponsorships associated with betting for NCAA Championships. Educating athletes about the dangers of betting also remains a major part of NCAA gambling efforts.
“This change recognizes the realities of today’s sports environment without compromising our commitment to protecting the integrity of college competition or the well-being of student-athletes,” Slippery Rock athletics director and Division II Management Council chairman Roberta Page told ESPN.
The shift on pro sports betting comes as the NCAA dealt with numerous betting-related issues over the last few years. In September, the association announced it launched an investigation into 13 former men’s basketball players at six schools.
ESPN also recently reported that a sports betting syndicate made numerous bets against the same small conferences teams. Those bets were flagged by sportsbooks.
In 2023, 16 current and former Iowa State athletes were allegedly part of an illegal betting scheme, and tampered with records to conceal their involvement. That included football player Eyioma Uwazurike, who the Denver Broncos drafted in 2022.
