NCAA changes policy for student-athlete betting charges

On April 25 this year, the NCAA Division 1 Council amended its bylaws to permit student-athletes to appeal sports betting bans.

The NCAA is now also obliged to conduct case-by-case reviews of sports wagering violations, its legislative committee revealed.

The changes were made in response to a perceived need to bring more balance and fairness to the adjudication process for such charges.

Before this new development, the NCAA automatically suspended any student-athletes who took part in sports betting activities.

Suspensions could extend up to one complete season, while players suspected of betting on games or influencing results could be banned for good.

All rulings were final and could never be appealed, but this is no longer the case.

“To promote increased fairness, the committee believes it is important to conduct a case-by-case review of sports wagering violations and also provide an appellate opportunity,” the NCAA legislative committee wrote.

The NCAA made this move in anticipation of a ruling that could be undertaken by the US Supreme Court in late June.

If the NBA, MLB, PGA Tour and several US states have their way, sports betting will soon be legal in all corners of the United States.

The NCAA continues to voice opposition to the move, insisting that legitimate wagering will compromise the integrity of college sports and undermine the interests of sporting communities in academic institutions.

Neal Eskin, senior associate athletic director at University of Connecticut, recently told the state’s Public Safety and Security Committee that all forms of sports wagering in member institutions are strictly prohibited.

Nevertheless, nearly 20 US states are pushing for a legalised gambling industry that will create new revenue streams while taking business away from offshore bookmakers, illegal betting rings and organised crime syndicates.