NCAA Could Greenlight Professional Sports Betting
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is reportedly considering a significant policy change that could reshape its approach to sports betting regulations. Multiple sources have indicated to Sports Illustrated that the organization may remove its current prohibition on betting involving professional sports for athletes, coaches and staff.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:This potential change comes as the Division I Board of Directors recently voted to advance the proposal to the Division I Council, which is expected to take up the matter for further review in the coming days. The proposal, if supported by the D-I Council, could be expedited and officially implemented by late June.
Related: NCAA Survey Reveals Student-Athlete Gambling TrendsAs it now stands, NCAA rules prohibit athletes and associated personnel from betting on professional sports that the NCAA also sponsors. However, during a video conference held on April 21, the D-I board approved, by a vote of 21–1, a directive to the council recommending the adoption of legislation to lift that specific ban on wagering.
While the potential rule change would relax regulations surrounding professional sports betting, it would not affect the NCAA's firm stance against betting on collegiate sports. According to individuals familiar with the matter, prohibitions against wagering on college athletics would remain fully in effect. The D-I board also instructed NCAA staff to create concepts for consideration involving reduced penalties or safe harbor policies for college athletes who engage in sports betting and subsequently request assistance for their betting-related problems.
This initiative is part of a broader reassessment of the NCAA's sports betting policies, which the organization launched two years ago. The surge of legalized sports betting across the US, particularly in states with major college campuses, has made enforcement increasingly difficult. In some cases, the NCAA and university compliance officers have faced an overwhelming volume of eligibility and infraction cases stemming from what are often minor instances of professional sports betting.
The evolving legal and cultural environment around sports betting has prompted a strategic reevaluation within the NCAA. According to college athletics consultant Matt Banker, the shift reflects a need to align NCAA policy with the current landscape, where sports betting is legal in nearly 80% of the country. Banker noted that fully monitoring all athletes, coaches and staff for every form of sports betting could occupy the entire national office, suggesting that resources are better directed toward issues with a direct impact on the integrity of college sports.
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Reshaping the Sports Betting Industry
If adopted, the proposed changes would allow the NCAA to focus its enforcement on betting activities that pose a threat to college athletics, such as point shaving, game manipulation, and performance-fixing schemes. These issues have drawn growing concern, particularly as public interest and financial stakes in collegiate events have increased. By narrowing its scope, the NCAA hopes to more effectively safeguard the integrity of its competitions and protect student-athletes from external pressures linked to betting outcomes.
Recent developments further highlight the importance of this regulatory pivot. Investigations by both federal authorities and NCAA Enforcement remain active regarding suspected game-fixing in men's college basketball. These inquiries were expanded following the arrest of multiple individuals, including links to former NBA player Jontay Porter, who was accused of manipulating his performance for betting purposes.
The International Betting Integrity Association reported in its most recent quarterly update that it had flagged six basketball games in the US in the first quarter of 2025 for suspicious betting activity. This represents an increase over the previous year, during which five games in the US were flagged. While the specific contests were not identified, the rise in alerts underscores the growing concerns surrounding betting patterns in collegiate basketball and supports the NCAA's intent to refocus its regulatory efforts.
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