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NCAA The Division I Administrative Committee voted in favor of a proposal that would open the door for athletes to bet on professional sports.
The proposal must still receive approval from Divisions II and III before it can take effect. Those groups are expected to vote on the issue at their meetings later this month.
If the proposal receives final approval, the change could take effect as early as November 1. However, student athletes will still be prohibited from gambling. college sports.
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FILE – In this March 18, 2015 file photo, the NCAA logo is displayed on center court as work continues on the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
“During today’s discussion, the Administrative Committee made it clear that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling, but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions for student-athletes in this area to better align with their peers on campus,” said Illinois Athletic Director and Committee Chair Josh Whitman.
NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS BANNED FROM BETTING ON THEIR OWN GAMES
“This change allows the NCAA, conferences and member schools to focus on protecting the integrity of college gaming while encouraging healthy habits in student-athletes who choose to participate in professional sports betting.”
FILE – In this file photo taken Wednesday, March 18, 2015, the NCAA logo is on the court as work continues at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
The NCAA also prohibits sharing information about college competitions with players. The institution also does not allow advertising or sponsorship of NCAA championships through betting sites.
Despite the potential changes, the committee stressed that it does not support sports betting, especially among student-athletes.
The NCAA logo is seen on the field before the game between the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and the North Dakota State Bison in the FCS Division I Football Championship at Toyota Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photo via Getty Images)
“Division I members actively work to deregulate NCAA rules where possible, and the Division I Board of Directors remains focused on preserving rules that speak directly to the fairness of college athletic competition and the academic success of college athletes,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “While NCAA members do not encourage student-athletes to engage in any sports betting, it is time to modernize these rules by removing prohibitions on betting on professional sports and focusing on harm reduction strategies for behavior that does not directly impact college sports.”
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This change comes as the number of NCAA enforcement cases includes sports betting violations have increased in recent years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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