Regulatory Body Showcases Vigor in Basketball and Baseball Competitions
The regular season for collegiate baseball ends on May 17, marking the start of the post-season tournaments. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has been dominant in this sport for the past several seasons, producing six of the last seven national champions. As of now, Tennessee is ranked No. 1, LSU is No. 2, and Arkansas is No. 3 in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll. The SEC teams will compete against each other for a 10-week stretch starting this weekend, which could provide a better picture of title contenders. The SEC tournament is set for May 20-25 in Hoover, Alabama, and the College World Series begins on June 13 in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the world of college basketball, the SEC is also prominent. Florida is ranked No. 4, Alabama is No. 5, and Auburn is No. 3 in the Associated Press poll. The 2025 NCAA men's March Madness tournament begins on Tuesday, with the national title game set for April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The tournament will be broadcast on CBS.
As for sports betting, it is legal and live in 38 states nationwide, with sports betting also being legal in Missouri, but not expected to go live there until this fall. Several SEC states have legal sports betting, including Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas, although the exact legal status and launch dates vary by state. For example, Missouri is set to launch legal sports betting on December 1, 2025. However, it's important to note that some SEC states have restrictions on betting on in-state college teams.
In the SEC, key states to note are Missouri (launching December 2025), Georgia (potential future legalization, earliest launch likely 2027), and others like Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, and Alabama, which currently allow some form of legal sports betting but may have specific restrictions. Meanwhile, five SEC states (Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina) do not have legal sports betting, making up the largest regional grouping in the nation without this option.
Larry Henry, a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor, has experience with media outlets in states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana. He has worked at the Las Vegas Sun and KFSM-TV in Northwest Arkansas. With his extensive background, Henry provides insightful coverage of the expanding world of sports betting in the SEC.
As the legal landscape of sports betting in the SEC continues to evolve, sports fans can expect more opportunities to engage with their favourite college teams. The status is dynamic with recent legal changes and pending regulations, so it's essential to stay informed. The 2023 collegiate baseball season could see another national titleholder or serious contenders from the SEC emerge.
Sports fans in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) region may soon have more ways to engage with their favorite teams, as sports betting becomes legal in more states. Larry Henry, a seasoned reporter, offers insightful coverage on this expanding landscape, having worked in media outlets in states like Tennessee and Louisiana, where gaming is legal. Meanwhile, the world of college basketball in the SEC remains strong, with Florida, Alabama, and Auburn ranked highly in the Associated Press poll. The 2025 NCAA men's March Madness tournament, set to begin on Tuesday, will showcase the basketball skills of these and other SEC teams.
