The NCAA recently released an updated series of guidelines that could reduce consequences for student athletes who participate in sports betting by wagering on other schools.
The new guidelines will require student athletes who wager up to $200 “only to undergo sports wagering rules and prevention education.” Prior to the change, the penalty for wagering less than $200 was a suspension for 10% of the season.
Under the new rules, student athletes would face suspension time ranging between 10% and 30% of the current season for placing wagers larger than $200, a substantially lower penalty than the previous guidelines require.
Any bets larger than $500 resulted in suspension for the entire season with the old guidelines. Players could miss half the season for wagers ranging from more than $200 to less than $500.
The NCAA released a statement, delivered by Jacksonville Athletics Director and Division I Legislative Committee Chair Alex Ricker-Gilbert that said, "These new guidelines modernize penalties for college athletes at a time when sports wagering has been legalized in dozens of states and is easily accessible nationwide with online betting platforms.
"While sports wagering by college athletes is still a concern – particularly as we remain committed to preserving the integrity of competition in college sports – consideration of mitigating factors is appropriate as staff prescribe penalties for young people who have made mistakes in this space."
Since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, online sports wagering is currently available in 34 states and Washington, DC.
