Indianapolis, IN – A significant shift is underway in the world of college athletics. On Wednesday, October 22, the Division II and Division III Management Councils cast their vote to approve a new change in the NCAA’s sports betting policy aimed at student-athletes and athletics department staff. This new policy allows both groups to place bets on professional sports, marking a big step in the evolving landscape of college sports.
This decision follows the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee‘s endorsement of the change on October 8. However, this approval was needed from Divisions II and III before moving forward. Starting November 1, student-athletes and athletics department staff will be able to legally engage in betting activities on professional leagues such as the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and WNBA.
Importantly, the new policy does not extend to college sports, which will continue to be off-limits for betting under NCAA regulations. Currently, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes and athletics staff from betting on college sports or sharing information with bettors regarding collegiate games.
The councils made it clear in their announcement that this vote is not an endorsement of sports betting, particularly for student-athletes. They emphasized the need for schools to adopt harm reduction strategies to ensure the well-being of all involved. This decision arises amidst ongoing NCAA investigations into sports betting violations at various member schools across the country.
Josh Whitman, the chair of the Division I Administrative Committee and Illinois athletic director, stated, “The Administrative Committee was clear in its discussion today that it remains concerned about the risks associated with all forms of sports gambling but ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers.” He added that this policy change aims to balance the integrity of college games with the realities of sports betting in society.
Along with this announcement, the NCAA has also recently approved a change regarding the college football transfer window, which will now be set at a 15-day window in January. These moves reflect the NCAA’s ongoing adjustments to the growing acceptance and presence of betting culture in sports.
As sports betting continues to gain popularity, the NCAA remains focused on protecting the integrity of college sports while respecting the choices of student-athletes regarding professional sports betting.
