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NCAA will allow college athletes to bet on professional sports

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 15:05 GMT by Dallas Morning News
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NCAA Announces New Gambling Policy Allowing College Athletes to Bet on Professional Sports

On October 23, 2025 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released a landmark policy that will let student‑athletes place wagers on professional sports. The decision comes after months of internal review and a vote by the NCAA Board of Governors, and marks the first time the governing body has formally lifted its blanket ban on gambling for college athletes.

What the New Rule Actually Says

The policy—published as a two‑page memorandum on the NCAA website (https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/communications/policy/2025/2025-gambling-policy)—allows student‑athletes to bet on professional sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and major professional boxing, mixed‑martial‑arts, and golf events. It specifically excludes any betting on collegiate competition, professional leagues in which the athlete’s own school competes, or any other activity that would create a conflict of interest.

Key provisions include:

The policy is effective immediately, but a phased implementation is expected. Pilot programs will run during the first semester of the 2026‑27 academic year, followed by full enforcement thereafter.

The Rationale Behind the Change

The NCAA’s official statement cites the changing legal landscape as the primary driver. “In recent years, more than 30 states—including Texas, Florida, and Ohio—have legalized sports betting, and the industry now generates billions of dollars in revenue,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “By bringing student‑athletes into the fold under clear guidelines, we can protect them from predatory practices and keep the integrity of college athletics intact.”

The policy also reflects the NCAA’s broader strategy to modernize its “amateurism” framework. The organization has long been criticized for treating athletes as amateurs in a world where athletes earn millions in endorsements and media rights. Allowing controlled gambling is an effort to align the rules with the reality of athletes’ personal finance choices.

Potential Benefits and Risks

Benefits

• Legal Protection: Student‑athletes will no longer risk NCAA sanctions for simply enjoying a wager, as long as they comply with the new limits.
• Financial Literacy: Institutions can pair the policy with mandatory financial‑education workshops that cover responsible gambling.
• Transparency: The requirement to self‑report betting activity increases transparency and accountability.

Risks

• Addiction: Critics warn that the policy could inadvertently normalize gambling among young adults. The NCAA has pledged to provide counseling resources for athletes who may develop compulsive gambling behaviors.
• Conflict of Interest: The policy explicitly prohibits betting on the athlete’s own school, but oversight mechanisms must ensure compliance in practice, especially in high‑stakes professional games that are closely followed by collegiate teams.

Reactions From Stakeholders

The sports‑betting industry welcomed the announcement. A spokesperson for Bet365 said, “This move is a win for the responsible‑gambling community and sets a benchmark for transparency in the sports world.” Several state regulators echoed that sentiment, noting that the policy will help channel betting activity through regulated channels.

Athlete advocates, however, have mixed feelings. Former college basketball star Kamaru Allen, who now works as a sports analyst, said, “If the NCAA is going to let athletes gamble, we must ensure they’re not being coerced or exploited by the very companies that profit from their wagers.” In contrast, former football player and current coach Chris Johnson praised the policy as a “necessary step toward athlete autonomy.”

How the Policy Connects to Existing Rules

The NCAA’s new gambling policy dovetails with other regulatory frameworks. For instance, the Texas Legislature’s Sports Betting Act (passed in 2024) requires all bettors to be at least 21 years old and mandates a 20% tax on net winnings. The NCAA policy aligns with this act by requiring student‑athletes to meet the same age and reporting requirements.

The policy also references the “Athlete Conduct Code” (https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/athletes/athlete-conduct-code), which now includes a specific section on gambling behavior. Violations of the conduct code, such as placing a bet on a professional team that competes against the athlete’s college, will trigger the same disciplinary process as any other major infraction.

Implementation Timeline

The NCAA’s Office of Compliance will issue a detailed compliance manual in November 2025, which will include FAQs, sample disclosure forms, and a training curriculum for coaches and student‑athletes.

What This Means for the Future of College Sports

By allowing student‑athletes to bet on professional sports under regulated conditions, the NCAA acknowledges the evolving nature of sports consumption and athlete agency. The policy represents a balance between protecting the integrity of college competition and granting athletes personal freedoms that were previously restricted. Whether the new rules will lead to increased financial literacy among athletes or inadvertently foster gambling addiction remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the NCAA’s move signals a willingness to adapt to the realities of a gambling‑enabled sporting ecosystem—an adaptation that could shape how collegiate athletics interact with the broader sports economy for years to come.