As sports betting apps have been legalized across the country in recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about the ethics of athletes placing wagers on sporting events themselves.
Every professional sports league has long had strict bans on their respective players betting on any sporting events, whether in the sport they play or any other sport. When it comes to the college ranks, however, things appear to be on the verge of changing in a significant way when it comes to student-athletes betting.
On Wednesday, the NCAA announced the Division I Administrative Committee had voted to lift the restrictions on D1 athletes betting on professional sports. The rule change will only take effect if both the D2 and D3 levels vote to lift restrictions as well.
The NCAA prohibition against betting on college sports — and sharing information about college competitions with other bettors — remains in place. A release from the NCAA also noted that the rule change is not an endorsement of sports betting
“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,” said committee chair and Illinois AD Josh Whitman. “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.”
The decision from D1 leaders marks yet another massive shift in how the NCAA views student-athletes and their ability to earn money while still in college.
