A major change to NCAA sports betting rules for athletes and staff could take a key step forward this week.
The Division I Council is expected to formally vote on deregulating NCAA sports betting rules that currently prohibit athletes, coaches, and staffers from betting on professional sports, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Legal Sports Report.
The move would not permit wagering on college sports in any form, and the NCAA’s longstanding ban on athletes and staff betting on college games would remain in place.
Sports Illustrated first reported the pending vote.
Hurdles remain before NCAA rule change
The proposal comes after the Division I Board of Directors voted 21–1 in April to direct the D-I Council to adopt new legislation on the issue. The Council advanced the proposal to a formal vote in May, setting up this week’s action.
If the D-I Council approves the measure, additional steps remain. The Division II and Division III Councils would need to approve similar changes when they meet in July before new betting rules could fully take effect across all NCAA divisions.
NCAA sports betting policy evolves
The expected vote comes amid ongoing efforts by the NCAA to modernize its betting policies.
Two years ago, the association overhauled its penalty structure for betting violations. Athletes now face escalating penalties based on the amount wagered for violations, as opposed to the blanket one-year loss of eligibility that previously applied.
More serious violations, such as betting on a student-athlete’s own sport or team, or attempts to influence outcomes, still carry the potential for permanent loss of eligibility.
Juggling gambling violations
Pressure on the NCAA has grown as sports betting violations become more prevalent in college sports.
An NCAA probe at Iowa and Iowa State found more than 100 athletes and staffers violated betting rules, with some wagering on their own teams. In 2023, an investigation at the University of Alabama led to the firing of its baseball coach after suspicious betting activity was linked to an inside tip about an upcoming game.
In addition, federal and NCAA investigations remain active in cases involving point-shaving and game-fixing in men’s college basketball.
Opponents, supporters weigh risks
Supporters of easing restrictions on pro sports wagering argue that education and treatment of gambling as a mental health issue should be prioritized over automatic penalties, especially for smaller violations.
The NFL recently partnered with the International Center for Responsible Gaming to fund peer-reviewed research on gambling behaviors among college students and athletes.
Opponents of the rule change caution it could open the door to further risks, including potential crossover between legal pro sports betting and illegal wagering on college games.
That concern has only grown following the lifetime NBA ban of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, whose case has been linked to a gambling ring that also bet on college basketball games under NCAA investigation.
