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The NCAA may be preparing to shift its approach to sports betting, potentially allowing athletes, coaches, and staff to wager on professional sports for the first time. The move reflects growing pressure from recent enforcement issues and the evolving landscape of legal betting in the U.S.
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According to reporting by Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde, the Division I Board of Directors voted 21–1 last month in favor of lifting the existing ban on professional sports wagering for NCAA members. The proposal is now in the hands of the Division I Council, which is expected to review it this week. If approved, the rule change could be finalized before summer.
College sports wagering would still remain off-limits under the updated policy. The NCAA continues to take a strict stance on any involvement in college betting by its members.
The proposal also includes a directive for the NCAA to create options like limited immunity or reduced penalties for athletes who seek help for gambling problems. That shift could ease the burden on compliance departments, which have been stretched by the growing number of infractions tied to pro sports wagering.
The current system often requires lengthy investigations and leads to minor penalties. These cases have been piling up as more states legalize sports betting and athletes have easier access to mobile wagering platforms.
The NCAA’s tough stance on college sports betting has not changed. Officials are continuing to focus on preventing integrity issues tied to student-athletes betting on their own competitions.
College basketball in particular has been under increased scrutiny. Investigations into game-fixing concerns have surfaced over the past two years, and a federal probe involving former NBA player Jontay Porter has raised additional questions about links to the college basketball betting environment.
Last year, NCAA President Charlie Baker publicly called on lawmakers to ban prop betting on college athletes. That appeal came in March 2024, as the organization pushed for tighter limits to protect amateur competitions.