| What counts as sports betting may surprise you. |
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| Sure your fantasy league was only a $5 buy-in, or that Final Four tournament only costs 10 bucks. However, the NCAA prohibits student athletes and athletic department staff from sports betting of any kind. Participating in sports pools (even among friends) or providing information to others who are participating in sports wagering is also against the rules. Bottom line, if an entry fee is required to participate and there is a prize awarded at the end, it is an NCAA rule violation. |
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| In fact, the NCAA has an official rule about gambling related to NCAA sports that can be found in bylaw 10.3, which states: |
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| “Staff members of a member conference, athletics department of a member institution and student athletes shall not knowingly: |
| a) |
Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate competition; |
| b) |
Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team; |
| c) |
Accept a bet on any team representing the institution; |
| d) |
Solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) that has a tangible value; or |
| e) |
Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics through a bookmaker, parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.” |
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| At this point you might be wondering what type of sports betting is legal. |
| If the NCAA does not sponsor a championship in that sport it does not fall under the NCAA bylaw 10.3. For example, horseracing is not an NCAA sport, therefore the rule does not apply. Playing poker with your friends is obviously not NCAA regulated and is also not a violation but is discouraged by the NCAA. But football is an NCAA sport, so betting on the Super Bowl is not allowed. |
