Part 5 - Gambling, the NCAA and You
NCAA BYLAW 10.3—GAMBLING ACTIVITIES
Staff members of the athletics department of a member institution and student-athletes shall not knowingly:
- Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
- Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team;
- Accept a bet on any team representing the institution; or
- Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.
Examples of violations of this legislation include betting on the Superbowl, participating in a “March Madness” NCAA basketball pool, fantasy leagues, and reporting information on team injuries to outside individuals.
The NCAA opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering. Sports wagering has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardizes the welfare of student-athletes and the intercollegiate athletics community. Sports wagering demeans the competition and competitors alike by a message that is contrary to the purposes and meaning of “sport”. Sports competition should be appreciated for the inherent benefits related to participation of student-athletes, coaches and institutions in fair contests, not the amount of money wagered on the outcome of the competition.
Student-athletes are viewed by organized crime and organized gambling as easy marks. When student-athletes place bets with a bookie, they have jeopardized their eligibility and have broken the law. The bookie is now in control. If a student-athlete is sufficiently indebted or addicted, point shaving often is introduced as a way out. Bookies also use students as “runners” to collect debts and parlay sheets for which the bookie pays a commission. Gamblers also pay a commission for information related to sports teams (e.g., injury reports, morale, game plans and discipline issues).
IF ANYONE APPROACHES YOU REGARDING WAGERING ON SPORTING EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HEAD COACH, AN ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR OR THE COMPLIANCE OFFICE.