On Oct. 8, the NCAA announced a proposal to allow NCAA student-athletes and staff to bet on professional sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and other pro sports.
The rule change on the restrictions, which have been in effect since 1997, needed to be approved by all three division committees, and if approved, it would have gone into effect Nov. 1. The policy’s groundwork was laid back in April, when it passed with a 21-1 vote in favor from the NCAA Division I Board of Directors.
This decision was motivated by an increase in sports betting allegations across the country. In September, a Fresno State men’s basketball player had skewed his performance because of a prop betting scheme with three other athletes from San Jose State and Fresno State. Thirteen additional former athletes were also under investigation regarding sports betting issues.
The NCAA board voted a week ago to delay the effective date of the legislative change, pushing it back from Nov. 1 to Nov. 22. This move comes from immense pushback from many notable figures in collegiate athletics, specifically commissioner Greg Sankey, who said it would be a major step in the wrong direction.
The Congressional House Committee on Energy and Commerce sent a letter to NCAA Executive Director Charlie Baker with questions. The committee requested that nine questions be answered by Nov. 13. The letter is addressed to Baker and several major figures who had all spoken out against the new rule.
Sankey said in the letter that SEC presidents and commissioners have concerns with the legislation’s impacts on competition, integrity, and athlete well-being.
The chances of the legislation being voted down are high, considering the illegal gambling headlines of the federal investigations that led to more than 30 arrests, including Miami Heat veteran Terry Rozier, on bank and wire fraud charges for allegedly manipulating his prop bets for his and other gamblers’ benefit.
SEC chancellors have concerns with the legislation’s impacts on competition, integrity, and athlete well-being. These are feelings that are also present in other leagues such as the ACC, where Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi called the legislation one of the “stupidest decisions” he’s ever seen.
The rule change would, however, come with continued and enhanced education and support for college athletes to prevent problem gambling among student-athletes, which was supported by the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
In the delay in the legislation, the NCAA Division I process allows a rule change to be rescinded within 30 days of becoming final if two-thirds of the division’s members submit an electronic request supporting rescission. Since the window extends to Nov. 21, the board determined an effective date after that window was appropriate. Both Division I and II voted Oct. 21 and 22 but will pause due to the Division I delay.
