The NCAA is taking a step toward letting student-athletes and athletics department staff bet on professional sports while maintaining strict bans on wagering on college competitions. On Wednesday, the Division I Administrative Committee approved a proposal that still requires Divisions II and III approval. If all divisions consent, the rule would take effect November 1.
College Sports Betting Remains Off-Limits
The change does not alter NCAA rules prohibiting betting on college games, sharing insider information with bettors, or accepting sponsorships tied to NCAA championships.
Josh Whitman, athletics director at Illinois and committee chair, stressed caution: “The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers. This change allows the NCAA, the conferences, and the member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college games while, at the same time, encouraging healthy habits for student-athletes who choose to engage in betting activities on professional sports.”
The Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) supported the change, calling for enhanced education and support. “We believe this change represents meaningful progress toward a culture that prioritizes education, transparency and support over punishment,” the SAAC executive team said.
Education and Harm Reduction
The NCAA has rolled out resources including Harm Reduction Considerations for Gambling & Sports Betting in Collegiate Sports, mental health best practices, and an e-learning module on problem gambling completed by over 50,000 student-athletes worldwide.
Dr. Deena Casiero, NCAA chief medical officer, said: “Abstinence-only approaches to social challenges for college-aged individuals are often not as successful as approaches that focus on education about risks and open dialogue. The NCAA will continue to collaborate with schools to help student-athletes make educated decisions, prevent risky behavior, and seek support without fear of impacting their eligibility.”
Enforcement and Oversight
Cases involving sports betting have increased, particularly violations threatening college sports integrity. In September, three former men’s basketball players at Fresno State and San Jose State had their eligibility permanently revoked for betting on their own games.
Jon Duncan, NCAA vice president of enforcement, said: “Enforcement staff are investigating a significant number of cases that are specifically relevant to the NCAA’s mission of fair competition, and our focus will remain on those cases and those behaviors that impact the integrity of college sports most directly.”
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands noted the modernization effort: “While NCAA members do not encourage student-athletes to engage in sports betting behaviors of any kind, the timing is right to modernize these rules by removing prohibitions against betting on professional sports and focusing on harm reduction strategies for behaviors that do not impact college sports directly.”
The National Council on Problem Gambling welcomed the move for reducing stigma and creating safe avenues for student-athletes to seek help.
Source:
“DI Administrative Committee adopts proposal to allow student-athletes, staff to bet on pro sports”, ncaa.org, October 8, 2025
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