NCAA Delays Allowing Student-Athletes to Bet on Professional Sports in Wake of Gambling Scandal
GoLocalProv News Team
NCAA Delays Allowing Student-Athletes to Bet on Professional Sports in Wake of Gambling Scandal
The move comes in the wake of a major professional sports gambling scandal and FBI probe - and NCAA conferences and coaches pushing back.
The Division I Board of Directors on Tuesday voted to delay the effective date of a rules change to allow student-athletes and school athletics department staff members to permissibly bet on professional sports under NCAA rules.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe rule change now will not take effect until Nov. 22.
The NCAA Division I legislative process allows a rule change to be rescinded within 30 days of becoming final if two thirds of the division's members submit an electronic request supporting rescission. Because that rescission window extends to Nov. 21, the board determined an effective date after that window was appropriate.
Sports betting rules are the same across all three divisions. Division III voted Oct. 21 and Division II voted Oct. 22 to change the rules, but the Division I pause also delays the effective date for Divisions II and III.
READ: Before Feds’ Charges on Gambling Cases — URI, Bryant & BC Were All Tied to Scandals
Conferences and Coaches Push Back
In a memo sent to the NCAA last week, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey urged the association to rescind its decision to permit college athletes to wager on professional sports, describing the move as a “major step in the wrong direction,” according to reports.
Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi blasted the move by the NCAA.
"It's absolutely one of the stupidest decisions I've ever seen," Narduzzi said. "First of all, it's a habit. It's no different than smoking, drinking, doing drugs, it's a bad habit. I don't think anyone here encourages you guys to go out drinking and getting smashed on a Friday night or Saturday night, or at a ball game."