Published on: October 23, 2025, 08:39h.
Updated on: October 23, 2025, 08:39h.
- NCAA student-athletes permitted to engage in professional sports betting starting November 1
- College athletes remain prohibited from wagering on any collegiate sports events
It’s now confirmed: NCAA student-athletes involved in collegiate sports can legally wager on professional sports, effective November 1, provided they utilize a licensed and regulated sportsbook.
Earlier this month, Casino.org indicated that the likelihood of NCAA student-athletes being permitted to place bets on professional sports was high. This development followed the proposal by the NCAA Division I Administrative Committee to lift the ban on student-athletes wagering on all sports, specifically to exclude professional games.
As anticipated, the NCAA Division II and III management councils ratified the proposal during their recent meetings. This adoption implies that starting November 1, college students of legal gambling age can legally bet on professional sports.
“This change acknowledges the current realities of the sports landscape, all while maintaining our commitment to preserving the integrity of college competitions and safeguarding student-athletes,” stated Roberta Page, athletic director at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and chair of the Division II Management Council.
The NCAA clarified that this regulatory change regarding sports betting “should not be interpreted as an endorsement of gambling.”
NCAA’s Regulatory Obligations
The NCAA’s decision to allow student-athletes to bet on professional sports serves several purposes. It averts potential penalties, including loss of eligibility, for those college athletes who might inadvertently break the existing rule.
However, a more pressing concern may be the daunting challenge of monitoring the gambling activities of all college athletes, both in terms of college and professional sports. The NCAA oversees over 540,000 student-athletes across more than 1,000 member institutions competing in 24 different sports.
Permitting college students to place wagers on professional events alleviates some monitoring burdens. The NCAA’s statement indicates that this amendment enables the organization and its conferences and member institutions “to prioritize the safeguarding of college game integrity… while promoting healthy betting habits among student-athletes who wish to partake in professional sports wagering.”
“We operate the largest sports betting integrity program globally,” remarked NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Unfortunately, we have found some student-athletes involved in troubling activities.”
There is also a theory that lifting the ban on professional sports betting may steer some student-athletes from unregulated offshore sportsbooks or local bookies into the regulated market. This transition could offer essential consumer protections such as responsible gambling initiatives and secure financial transactions.
College Betting Remains Prohibited
NCAA student-athletes will continue to face restrictions, as they cannot place bets on any college sports events, irrespective of their affiliation with the sport, conference, or division.
“NCAA regulations forbid involvement in any sports betting activities and prohibit providing information to any individuals engaged in or associated with sports betting regarding intercollegiate or amateur competitions,” the NCAA rules specify. “In summary, if you are a student-athlete, coach, or athletic staff member—regardless of sport or division—you are not allowed to bet or share any information that could influence a wager in any sport the NCAA oversees at any level.”