The NCAA Division 1 Administrative Committee has officially adopted a proposal allowing student athletes and athletic departments staff to bet on professional sports. This proposal will stray away from the longstanding policy of sports betting among athletes and staff that has been increasingly more challenging to enforce with the growing nature of sports betting in the United States.
According to ESPN, if approved by Divisions II and III, the rule would officially go into effect on November 1st. The Proposal would allow student athletes and staff members to legally bet on professional sports, but will still prohibit any wagering related to collegiate competition.
The NCAA has made it clear that the change is not to promote sports betting, as there still is the risk associated with sports gambling. The change is being further supported by the Division 1 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC); according to Bleacher Report, the D1 SAAC hopes the rule change will give student athletes the platform to “seek help” if they are struggling with gambling.
Josh Whitman, the Chair of the Division I Administrative Committee released the following statement (per NCAA):
“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.”
“Abstinence-only approaches to social challenges for college-aged individuals are often not as successful as approaches that focus on education about risks and open dialogue.” Dr. Deena Casiero, the chief medical officer of the NCAA said in a statement, “The NCAA will continue to collaborate with schools to help them provide student-athletes with meaningful education and other resources for student-athletes who choose to participate in betting on professional sports. This harm reduction approach gives schools an opportunity to help student-athletes make educated decisions, prevent risky behavior and seek support without fear of impacting their eligibility.”
In August of 2024, the Notre Dame men’s swimming program was suspended for the 2024-2025 season after an investigation showed that the team had established a makeshift sportsbook, where members were placing wagers on their own team and results. In addition to taking bets on other major sporting events, such as the March Madness basketball tournament.
This violated the NCAA rule 10.3, where sports wagering was prohibited by student athletes on any level (intercollegiate, amateur, or professional).
Even under the new proposal, those actions would not be permitted by the NCAA, as the proposed change would only allow wagering on professional sports.
Hopefully normalizing gambling doesn’t end up with more occurrences like this:
9/11/25: NCAA: 13 players from 6 schools involved in gambling schemes
Yes, this is still illegal with the rules change, but just wondering if it is a slippery slope… Time will tell…
Wasn’t gambling on college sports one reason President T. Roosevelt wanted a body (aka,) the NCAA(Ahem!) to oversee sports in colleges? Safety of athletes was one reason cited (example: deaths in football games). Reports out there is that gambling on college campuses is increasing, so much so college counseling centers are offering services to identify and treat gambling addiction in addition to drug, alcohol, and sexual assault.
Notre Dame is BACK!!!!
Construction begins on a cashier’s cage adjacent to the locker room??
(it never gets old)
Bwaaaahahahaha
No reason college athletes shouldn’t be able to gamble on pro sports. Good job NCAA!
NCAA is really failing the students. Surveys after surveys showed that average Americans do not have the basic understanding to manage their own finances. So instead of teaching our student athletes on how to manage their finances and future earnings, they now openly allow them to be more irresponsible for their own financial future. Great job, educators!! Way to sink further down the drain.
Gee, many athletes in college now make millions…..and now can gamble without consequences. I can see the BetMGM executives leaving the NCAA offices now.
I predict this won’t go well when teams and/or individuals throw their matches or race.
And it will be impossible to police.
This lets them bet on professional sports. It does NOT let them bet on collegiate sports….
What does professional mean? To me it is payment to the athletes. I do believe collegiate athletes are now paid. Lawsuit coming soon.
Learn to read
Athletes who play in sports, that other people can bet on, should not be involved in any form of sports betting.
The NCAA needs to protect the athletes who will, ultimately, be forced to make deals with the devil to pay off their debts.
Even if being compromised is not an issue, the highs and lows along with the addiction of betting should be discouraged in college.
Can we please just have our B finals?
Is this a reality show?
All I want for Christmas fr