The NCAA was begrudgingly willing to allow student-athletes to wager on pro sports. At first glance, it appeared like the logical thing to do - why bother investigating athletes for simply expressing their love for sports by placing the occasional flutter?
NCAA's top schools say no to betting on pro sports
As long as it’s not on college-level sports, the NCAA was willing to turn a blind eye to gambling by students actively participating in sports – at least until recently, and based on a recently proposed and voted decision.
However, this has been stopped at the finishing line, with the NCAA now reneging on the deal. The reason behind the volte-face is evident enough. A spate of scandals embroiling the NBA and MLB, among other athletic organizations, means that the NCAA is in a less charitable mood.
The organization confirmed that it would not be allowing student-athletes to gamble, and this comes also amid internal scandals that have already seen college-level students suspended. On Friday, the organization rescinded its proposed rule change, returning to the status quo instead.
Essentially, the rule came down to a vote in Division I schools, which needed to hold their own process because of a lack of original majority in the matter, with most ruling against the pro-sports rule. Division II and Division III will also, as a result, not allow gambling on pro sports by student-athletes.
A rule that applies to the entire college-level competition
This is not just a matter of optics, but it similarly stems from internal opposition to betting by student-athletes.
Even the NCAA has repeatedly said that it was against betting by college students, but acknowledged that it may help alleviate pressure on the organization by not having to track down instances of students betting on professional sports that do not in any way affect the integrity of college sports.
The NCAA has also been particularly critical of college prop bets, which the organization has seen as a gateway to issues with the integrity of the game.
