NCAA Official Raises Concern Over Student-Athletes Betting on Themselves

“There is growing concern about student-athletes placing bets on their own performances,” said Mark Hicks, the NCAA’s managing director of enforcement. Hicks stressed that organized crime and extensive financial manipulation are not the only causes of integrity problems in collegiate athletics while speaking at the NEXT Sports Betting and iGaming Conference in New York City.

“I think we’re starting to see that it’s pretty commonplace for people to bet on themselves,” Hicks said during a panel on athlete harassment.

This growing problem comes at the same time that the NCAA, under the leadership of President Charlie Baker, is working to persuade state and federal legislators to restrict collegiate player prop bets. The group has stated that one of the reasons for its lobbying is the rise in bettors’ harassment. However, Hicks noted that when participants wager on their own performances, there is a greater immediate integrity risk than harassment.

Potential Risks to Fair Play

Unlike traditional match-fixing scandals, where outside influences manipulate games for financial gain, this concern involves players placing bets on their own stats. In some cases, it may not even involve deception. A confident athlete might simply wager on their own “Over” prop bet, believing they will outperform expectations.

Regardless of intent, NCAA rules strictly prohibit student-athletes, coaches, and staff from betting on any sport the organization oversees. Even participating in fantasy contests or filling out a March Madness bracket for money could result in losing eligibility.

Hicks warned that the ease of access to betting platforms, including daily fantasy sports (DFS), makes it tempting for athletes to place wagers on themselves.

“It just becomes really easy for a kid to go ‘Oh … you know, I don’t feel good today, I’m not going to hit three three-pointers in the first half,’” Hicks said.

With March Madness approaching, one of the biggest betting events of the year, these concerns are becoming even more relevant. The NCAA continues to push for regulatory changes, but Hicks’ comments highlight the challenges of keeping student-athletes from engaging in betting, whether legal or not.