Growing Interest in College Sports Betting
Sports betting has become more and more discussed amongst former and current college athletes and students under the NCAA. Many believe that participating in sports betting is nothing more than a fun pastime for athletes to participate in, however, this brings into question the true intent behind games that are being betted on. The idea of sports betting was initially allowed by the NCAA for players and staff to participate in as long as the bets were solely on professional sports as opposed to the collegiate level. However, as of November 2025, the board of the NCAA rescinded the rule change. This decision comes after several professional athletes were caught in an NBA betting scandal that resulted in arrests and dismissal from the sport. This means that currently any athlete, coach, or staff under the NCAA is not allowed to participate in any sports betting amongst any level of competition. If an individual is caught violating this rule they risk permanent loss of eligibility, suspension, and potential loss of scholarship. The severity of their punishment correlates to the amount betted, if it is their own games being betted on, or if they have provided information that aided in the success of a bet.
However, these threats do little to stop the popularity of sports betting amongst college students as a whole with a NCAA survey revealing that 58% of students aged 18-22 years old admit to participating in a sports bet. This form of gambling is not isolated to one university or sport, but is persistent throughout the country with the Northeast having 61% of students involved in sports betting, while the West has 54%. With the enhancements of collegiate sports, sports betting becomes more and more attractive for students with tools such as the transfer portal to give them more insight into the performance of athletes in their prospective sports. This form of gambling is extremely easy to pursue through websites and apps. This, along with the general thrill that comes with gambling, allows those who are involved or interested in sport to show their knowledge through financial gain. The profit of sports betting ranges drastically with the payout being a few hundred dollars or, when high stakes betting, several thousand dollars. The financial appeal and thrilling sensation of betting paired with the passion for sports makes for a risky game. As seen in professional sports, gambling can cause players to go against their own team in hopes of financial gain. Though it is prohibited by the NCAA to partake in sports betting, many athletes choose to ignore the risks associated and continue to play their sport. However, any student not under a NCAA contract is allowed to participate within state laws at their desire. It will be interesting to see where the NCAA takes this policy in the future with the continued development of sport as it correlates to the world of gambling.
If you are struggling with a gambling addiction call the Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline at 877-770-STOP