College athletes and staff cleared to bet on professional sports under new NCAA rule
Summary
The NCAA has approved a rule change allowing college student-athletes and athletic department staff to place bets on professional sports. Division I endorsed the proposal on 8 October, with Divisions II and III approving it on 22 October. The rule takes effect at the beginning of November.
The revision explicitly preserves the long-standing ban on wagering on college sports and forbids sharing inside information with bettors. The NCAA also maintains its refusal to accept sponsorships or advertising from sports betting companies for its championships. Enforcement officials say they will continue to investigate betting cases that threaten competitive integrity; recent incidents — including three men’s basketball players banned for betting on their own games — underline those concerns.
Key Points
- The new policy permits student-athletes and athletics staff to wager on professional sports only.
- Division I approved the change on 8 October; Divisions II and III signed off on 22 October; it comes into force in early November.
- Betting on college competitions remains strictly prohibited, and sharing inside information with bettors is banned.
- The NCAA will not accept sports-betting sponsorships or advertising for its championships.
- Enforcement will continue to prioritise cases that most directly affect the integrity of college sport.
- Recent bans for players who wagered on their own games helped prompt renewed focus on oversight and education.
Why should I read this?
Heads up — this is a meaningful rule shift. If you work in college sport, betting regulation, compliance or student welfare, this changes what institutions must police and educate for. It doesn’t green-light gambling on college games, but it does normalise a new boundary: pro sports bets are allowed, college bets aren’t. Read it to know the new rules, the timings and the enforcement priorities so you’re not caught out.