NCAA Caves to Pressure, Student Athlete Pro Sports Betting Ban Remains

In a controversial move, the NCAA moved toward eliminating the prohibition on student-athletes’ ability to bet on professional sports, but after criticisms from every major corner, the organization has decided to keep the ban in place.

NCAA Walks Back Rule Change

The NCAA has decried player props in college sports, imploring sportbooks and state regulators to eliminate them from their sports betting menus. Therefore, it was a bit surprising that the organization that governs collegiate sports would be amenable to allowing its members to wager on professional, albeit not college, sports.

Mixed Reactions to Initial Proposal

Some applauded the move, calling it forward-thinking, while others believed it was a serious breach of trust. The NCAA has positioned itself as a protector of student-athletes, and the head-scratching pivot toward allowing its members to bet on professional sports seemed antithetical to its mission statement.

The rule change was intended to allow student athletes and the athletic department staff to bet on professional sports without recriminations, keeping abreast of societal and cultural norms that have evolved with the advent of legalized sports betting.

The Harm-Reduction Argument

Dr. Deena Casiero, the NCAA’s 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. This harm reduction approach gives schools an opportunity to help student-athletes make educated decisions, prevent risky behavior, and seek support without fear of impacting their eligibility.”

However well-intentioned the NCAA’s rule change was, it didn’t pass muster in many corners of the collegiate sports world and ultimately caused the organization to maintain the ban.

“Because sports betting rules are common legislation, the ban on all forms of betting—for sports in which the NCAA sponsors a championship—will remain in place for all three NCAA divisions,” the NCAA said in a statement.

Targeted Criticism Succeeds

There was no shortage of critics who aimed their venom and vitriol at the NCAA’s proposed rule change to allow collegiate athletes to bet on professional sports. One particularly powerful voice came from the commissioner of the powerful SEC, Greg Sankey.

“On behalf of our universities, I write to urge action by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to rescind this change and reaffirm the Association’s commitment to maintaining strong national standards that keep collegiate participants separated from sports wagering activity at every level,” Sankey wrote.

Another commanding voice upbraiding the NCAA for the proposed rule change was NBA Hall of Famer and Auburn basketball legend Charles Barkley, who said the following:

“Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea should have their head examined.”

Barkley was just getting started and added, “But I saw something last week that let me know we need to do something about the NCAA, where they announced they’re going to let college players bet on pro sports. If that’s not the stupidest sh*t. You talk about putting your kids in the kitchen and turning the stove on. Like, when I heard that, I said: ‘This has got to be a joke.’