“if you are a student-athlete, coach or athletics staff member, regardless of sport or division, you are not allowed to bet or provide any useful information that can influence a bet in any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.” -NCAA
Read that again.
Read “regardless of sport or division” again.
Think about that.
Every single division — one, two, and three — are all prohibited from betting on sports, and quite frankly, it makes no logical sense.
Sportsbooks don’t even have bets listed for division two, let alone division three. Why should they be grouped into this ruling?
When it comes to division one athletes, it makes sense to have these regulations. The main reason given against sports betting amongst athletes is the possibility of game manipulation.
These athletes are on the grandest stage, playing on TVs all across the country in every house, bar, or everything in between.
Division one sports are talked about constantly, almost as if they’re professional.
The spotlight is on them.
There are endless stories and detailed stats that surround these teams.
The same cannot be said about division three sports.
Division three sports games aren’t televised everywhere.
There aren’t people compiling hundreds of stats, giving the most in-depth analysis about a Neumann University basketball game.
Stories about division three sports barely even make it outside of the campus.
Treating these two divisions the same way is just silly.
If a division three student athlete places a bet on the Super Bowl, is it really that big of a deal?
“An April 2023 NCAA survey of more than 3,500 18- to 22-year-olds shows sports betting is pervasive among young adults across the country, with 58% saying they have engaged in at least one sports betting activity,” says the NCAA website.
Regardless of your thoughts on sports betting, the popularity of it is undeniable, especially amongst the college-aged demographic.
Sports betting has taken over and has become a staple in sports culture.
Everyone has heard of it.
It’s inescapable.
You tune into a sports broadcast, and you’re guaranteed to hear about the odds and what bets you should place.
There are now entire social media accounts and TV programs just dedicated to betting.
And yet, no matter how popular it may be, one group will never be able to join in on the craze.
With some moderation, I genuinely believe that betting can be a great way to engage a sports fan.
If a home run from Bryce Harper is going to win someone hundreds of dollars, you’re darn right, their eyes will be glued to that screen when he steps up to the plate.
Division two and three college athletes most likely aren’t heading to the pros—they’re stepping off the field for the final time. That doesn’t mean their love for the sport will miraculously disappear.
If sports betting is this generation’s way of engaging themselves in sports, I say let them gamble away.
Just don’t end up filing for bankruptcy.
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