NCAA Considers Allowing College Athletes to Bet on Professional Sports

The NCAA's Division I Council has proposed a policy change that would permit college athletes and staff to bet on professional sports, while maintaining the existing prohibition on wagering related to collegiate events and the sharing of insider information. This proposal, announced on June 26, 2025, requires approval from Divisions II and III to be implemented.

This initiative reflects the NCAA's response to the widespread legalization of sports gambling across the United States. Since the Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, which invalidated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, numerous states have legalized sports betting. This shift has presented challenges for the NCAA in enforcing its traditional prohibitions against gambling among athletes and staff.

NCAA President Charlie Baker highlighted concerns about the harassment of athletes by bettors, noting the organization's difficulties in fully prohibiting professional sports betting among college affiliates. He emphasized the need to protect student-athletes from such harassment and to focus enforcement efforts on preserving the integrity of collegiate sports.

Dr. Deena Casiero, the NCAA's Chief Medical Officer, suggested that a more realistic, regulated approach could help address gambling issues among students. She stated, "By meeting student-athletes where they are, schools may be more effective at preventing, identifying and supporting student-athletes with problematic gambling behaviors."

The proposal aims to concentrate enforcement efforts on preserving the integrity of collegiate sports by continuing to ban betting on college events and the dissemination of related insider information. This approach acknowledges the challenges in enforcing a complete ban and seeks to focus on areas most critical to maintaining the integrity of collegiate athletics.

However, this shift raises questions about the potential normalization of gambling behaviors among student-athletes and the broader college community. While the NCAA aims to protect athletes from harassment and ensure the integrity of college sports, the policy change may have unintended consequences, such as increased exposure to gambling-related harms.

Historically, the NCAA has maintained a strict stance against any form of sports betting by athletes and staff. The proposed policy represents a significant departure from this position, aligning more closely with the current legal environment where sports betting is widely accessible and legal in many states.

This development is part of a broader trend of the NCAA adapting its policies in response to legal challenges and societal changes. For instance, the recent $2.8 billion antitrust settlement allows schools to directly pay athletes, marking a substantial shift in the organization's approach to athlete compensation.

As the NCAA continues to navigate the evolving landscape of sports betting, the organization faces the challenge of balancing the integrity of collegiate sports with the autonomy of athletes and staff. The outcome of this proposal will likely have significant implications for the future of collegiate athletics and the well-being of student-athletes.