NCAA athletes, staffers could soon bet on pro sports in shocking twist

The NCAA is weighing a big change when it comes to college athletes and legalized sports betting.

The Division I Administrative Committee adopted a proposal Wednesday that could ease some of the restrictions on what college athletes are allowed to wager on, according to the NCAA.

This proposal could allow student athletes to wager on professional sports through legalized channels, but the rules against wagering on college sports would remain.

As it stands today, college athletes are prohibited from wagering on any sports.

For the rule change to take place, the Division II and Division III Administrative Committees would need to vote to approve the measure in late October.

If those Divisions approve of the proposal, the new rules would go into effect on Nov. 1.

Both the Division I Administrative Committee and the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee cautioned that the proposal is not an endorsement of sports betting among college athletes, but an admission that there is an inherent difference in the way the rules being applied to college athletes compared to average college students.

“The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers,” Josh Whitman, Illinois athletics director and chair of the committee, said in a statement.

“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.”

Since legalized online sports betting has spread across various states after the Supreme Court struck down PAPSA in 2018, a number of college athletes and staff have been involved in sports betting scandals.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hopes that more education can be a preventative measure for athletes to avoid serious penalties for violations.

“The NCAA Division I SAAC supports the deregulation of the prohibition on sports wagering related to professional sports,” the Division I SAAC executive team said in a statement regarding the proposal.

“We believe this change represents meaningful progress toward a culture that prioritizes education, transparency and support over punishment.”