With the growth of legal sports betting in the US after the 2018 Supreme Court decision regarding the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the NCAA has banned athletes, coaches, and staff from wagering on professional sports, but this may soon be revised. 

Last month, the Division I Board of Directors approved 21-1 the progression of a potential rule change to the D-I Council for further deliberation. Sports Illustrated, citing unnamed sources familiar with the issue, reported that there’s growing support for permitting individuals with direct NCAA connections to bet on professional sports, and further clarity on this topic may come as early as next month.

"(The board) directed the NCAA staff to develop concepts for the appropriate committees to consider regarding a safe harbor, limited immunity or reduced penalties for student-athletes who engage in sports wagering but seek help for problem gambling,” according to the board by way of Sports Illustrated.

If the D-1 Council decides to approve lifting the pro sports wagering ban, the existing prohibition on college sports betting would remain unchanged. 

NCAA Professional Sports Wagering Prohibition Considered Obsolete 

While the NCAA's ban on athletes, coaches, and staff wagering on professional sports may be well-meaning, it is similarly, if not more, excessive and capricious for one clear reason: the restriction encompasses any professional sport that also exists at the collegiate level. 

This indicates that coaches, personnel, and student-athletes are prohibited from betting on the NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball (MLB). There is no wagering on the WNBA, professional golf, and tennis, as the NCAA supports the college versions of these sports. In professional sports, NCAA athletes, coaches, and staff are permitted to bet on combat sports and motorsports, but very little else. 

The Division III Management Council has considered permitting its athletes and staff to gamble on professional sports, suggesting there’s approval at that level for an associated framework. 

“Exploring the concept of a safe harbor or limited immunity for student-athletes involved with sports betting reaffirms that harm reduction and education will continue to be paramount. We are seeking to deregulate betting on professional sports because we believe it will be more likely that student-athletes and staff will seek help for problem gambling,” said Jason Verdugo, chair of the council and athletics director at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, in an April statement.

NCAA Must Prioritize College Gambling 

So far, the NCAA has primarily detected minor infractions related to pro sports betting, often leading to lenient punishments. 

On the other hand, almost every sports betting scandal that gained significant attention involved bets placed on college games, and this holds true for both the pre- and post-PAPSA periods. Recent incidents involve Iowa State athletes facing felony identity theft charges for placing bets while underage, and former University of Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon being dismissed after it was revealed he disclosed player availability details to associates before it became publicly known. 

The NCAA has adopted a strict stance on serious betting violations, urging states to prohibit player propositions on college athletes to enhance athlete safety and strengthen integrity.