NCAA faces backlash over sports betting proposal
A proposal last week by the NCAA Division I Council to allow athletes and staff to bet on professional sports is facing backlash from industry stakeholders.
The proposal has yet to be approved, with the Division II and III Councils expected to meet in October to discuss it. Until then, athletes are banned from betting on sports, and offenders found to have bet on their own sports are likely to face a lifetime ban from collegiate athletics.
Josh Whitman, the athletics director at Illinois and council chairman, believes that the rule change would reflect the country’s changing attitude toward sports gambling as a whole.
“As betting on sports has become more widely accepted across the country, Division I members have determined that further discussion of these sports betting rules is warranted, particularly as it relates to the potential distinctions between betting on professional vs. collegiate sports,” Whitman said.
While the original rule will remain in place, advocacy groups worry about opening sports gambling to college athletes. Some remain worried over how quickly college sports have become popularized, with some athletes earning north of six figures with name, image and likeness deals, which they could use to place large bets.
Responsible gambling advocates argue that allowing athletes to bet on sports also would increase the risk of gambling addiction and financial ruin and push some to gamble on illegal sites.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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