NCAA Rescinds New Rule; Again Bars Athletes and Athletics Staff from Sports Gambling

In the wake of a number of gambling scandals in professional sports, the NCAA has rescinded its loosening of restrictions that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports.

In October, the NCAA adopted new rules allowing student-athletes and athletic staff to bet on professional sports. But because the new rule was adopted by less than 75% of the NCAA Division I council, rules mandate 30 days for each members institution to vote to rescind a proposal if it is adopted by less than 75% of the council.

If two thirds of the NCAA Division I members submit an electronic objection to the measure, then it will be rescinded. Because Division II and Division III follow Division I’s lead on gambling rules, implementation will be delayed for those levels as well.

Shortly after the original policy was passed, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, arguably the most powerful person in college sports right now, published an open letter calling on the NCAA to reverse the new policy. The letter highlighted the NBA gambling scandal that has shaken professional sports to their core in the United States.

Since then, other professional gambling scandals have come to light, including one in major league baseball, prompting a review by the United States Congress.

While the NCAA didn’t say how many of its D1 member institutions cleared the hurdle, though reports just before the deadline indicated that many schools waited until late in the process to vote on rescinding.

NCAA has seen an increase in sports gambling enforcement cases in recent years, with at least a dozen cases currently being investigated. Famously, the Notre Dame men’s swim team was suspended for an entire season after a sports gambling probe. The new policy, even if it had been left in place, still would not have allowed gambling on college sports.