Sports regulators ease penalties for athletes engaging in unlawful sports wagering activities.
Let's dive into the latest updates on college sports betting rules by the NCAA!
After a turbulent spring season (filled with betting controversies at colleges like the University of Alabama, the University of Iowa, and Iowa State University), the NCAA has unveiled revised penalties for future wagering violations.
Initially, the NCAA approached betting violations on a case-by-case basis. However, they now admit that guidelines crafted before the widespread legalization of mobile sports betting often resulted in athletes losing an entire season of eligibility if they placed bets on sports. The new, less stringent guidelines came into effect for any violations reported on or after May 2.
So, what exactly has changed?
The NCAA maintains its ban on student-athletes and coaches wagering on NCAA-sponsored sports (such as basketball, football, etc.) at the college or professional level. They also continue to discourage sharing inside information with bettors. But the new penalty system for athletes seems to acknowledge the increasing prevalence of legalized sports betting in the U.S.
Alex Ricker-Gilbert, athletic director at Jacksonville and chair of the NCAA’s DI Legislative Committee, stated, "These new guidelines modernize penalties for college athletes at a time when sports wagering has been legalized in dozens of states and is easily accessible nationwide with online betting platforms."
Specific Penalty Guidelines
The NCAA plans to impose its harshest penalties on student-athletes who tamper with the integrity of games. Any student-athlete influencing game outcomes for betting purposes or leaking information to bettors could face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This extends to athletes wagering on other sports at their respective college.
If an athlete places a bet on another school's team in the same sport they participate in, they can face a suspension of up to 50% of one season of eligibility. They'll be required to attend educational sessions on the NCAA’s betting rules.
Penalties for betting on professional sports depend on the cumulative dollar amount wagered. Wagers of $200 or less won't result in eligibility loss, but athletes will attend educational sessions on the NCAA’s sports wagering rules. Total wagers of $201-500 can lead to a 10% loss of a season's eligibility.
Virginia Tech linebacker Alan Tisdale, who was suspended six games in 2022 for placing about $400 worth of bets on NBA games, might have only been suspended for one game under the new rules.
Wagering $501-800 can result in a 20% loss of a season's worth of eligibility. Total wagers on professional sports over $800 can cost a student-athlete 30% of a season.
Athletes who violate NCAA rules by wagering extensively may face more severe penalties, including potential permanent ineligibility.
"While sports wagering by college athletes remains a concern, particularly as we remain committed to preserving the integrity of competition in college sports - consideration of mitigating factors is appropriate as staff prescribe penalties for young people who have made mistakes in this space," Ricker-Gilbert added.
Keep an eye out for more developments in the NCAA's approach to sports betting, as there is ongoing discussion about deregulating betting on professional sports and offering limited immunity to those seeking help for gambling addiction.
- The NCAA has introduced revised penalties for future wagering violations in college sports betting, acknowledging the increasing prevalence of legalized sports betting in the U.S.
- The revised penalties maintain the ban on student-athletes and coaches wagering on NCAA-sponsored sports, such as basketball, football, and college football.
- Athletes who influence game outcomes for betting purposes or leak information to bettors could face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports.
- Student-athletes wagering on other schools' teams in the same sport they participate in can face a suspension of up to 50% of one season of eligibility.
- Penalties for betting on professional sports depend on the cumulative dollar amount wagered, with wagers of $200 or less leading to educational sessions on the NCAA’s betting rules.
- Total wagers of $201-500 can lead to a 10% loss of a season’s eligibility, while wagers of $501-800 can result in a 20% loss.
- Total wagers on professional sports over $800 can cost a student-athlete 30% of a season.
- Athletes who violate NCAA rules by wagering extensively may face more severe penalties, including potential permanent ineligibility.
- Ricker-Gilbert added that consideration of mitigating factors is appropriate as staff prescribe penalties for young people who have made mistakes in sports betting, and ongoing discussion involves deregulating betting on professional sports and offering limited immunity to those seeking help for gambling addiction.
