What was supposed to be in effect on November 1st has been delayed until the 22nd.
The NCAA, at all three levels, has approved the ruling allowing college athletic staff and players to bet on professional sports.
However, they have pushed back the ruling an extra three weeks to give each Division I school time to vote to repeal the proposal if it is adopted by less than 75% of the Division I cabinet.
This is a significant move from the NCAA, considering that they have yet to endorse betting on sports, especially for student-athletes.
Specifically, the proposed rule change pertains solely to professional sports betting. College sports betting is still not allowed in order to uphold its integrity.
This rule change also does not alter the rule against athletes spreading information about college competitions.
The sports betting world, in general, has been growing nonstop over the last couple of years, and it does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. According to ESPN, the U.S. sports betting industry posted a record $13.7 billion in 2024.
But why the change after decades of prohibition?
“I think that this behavior has already been happening for quite some time,” says Dr. Julie Lanzillo, the associate dean, School of Business program director, and professor of sport management and sport business here at Neumann.
Adian Graczyk, a lacrosse athlete here at Neumann, agrees with Dr. Lanzillo’s statement, adding, “Now that betting on sports has become more popular than anticipated, I think they want the athletes to be smart about it and not break any violations.”
The NCAA’s foremost reason for this new rule change is due to their recognizing the realities of what the sports environment has become recently.
This is ironic, however, because recently the NBA had some arrests involving Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier,
as well as MLB pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who have been indicted for betting on baseball games.
These events and the recent proposal make athletes even more responsible for their actions surrounding sports betting, as leagues across all sports are becoming more investigative.
This change could also affect how coaches manage their programs across all levels.
“I think that different schools at different levels will have vastly different responses,” claims Dr. Lanzillo.
“I truly don’t think our coaching staff here (at Neumann) will react in any way,” comments Graczyk. “Unless myself or a teammate gets in trouble, then it’ll be a problem once the coaches have to step in.”
This is the new problem in the collegiate athletic world. Athletes have been given a lot more freedom over the last couple of years.
“My belief is that education goes a long way,” explains Dr. Lanzillo. She emphasizes that with the continuous growth of NIL in the college world, athletes need to be more careful not only with their money but with contracts from any company they might get NIL deals with.
Sports betting has hit a new peak, and now, more than ever, everyone needs to be educated on and self-aware of the dangers it can bring.
