The NCAA has taken its first step in addressing legal sports betting, integrity, and problem gambling with student-athletes.
In its rising battle with legal sports betting issues throughout collegiate athletics, the governing body released a sports wagering e-learning module to offer education to more than 500,000 student-athletes.
The module informs of problem gambling harm, risks to the integrity of the games, NCAA rules, and how to handle social media harassment.
"One of the first things I did when I took over as NCAA president was gather as much information as possible about sports betting on college campuses,” NCAA president Charlie Barker said. “This educational resource is directly informed by that data. We believe this new program will help protect student-athletes from the risks that come with sports wagering.
"The data is clear that athletes with firsthand experiences connect with current student-athletes better than any other material we could develop, so we are incredibly grateful for their participation in this effort."
The NCAA said it put the educational tool together by surveying student-athletes and conferring with campus leaders, former college athletes, and a current NFL player Zaire Franklin.
Problem gambling
The NCAA has been dealing with several sports betting issues this year, from a former Alabama coach getting fired for involvement in suspicious betting to Iowa and Iowa State players using other people’s accounts to make online sports betting wagers.
One of the surveys issued showed that 58% of the targeted age population was engaged in at least one sports betting activity. It also found that 16% of the surveyors engaged in “at least one risky behavior” with 6% reporting they lost more than $500 wagering in a single day.
"Sports wagering has exploded in our society, and it is extremely important for athletes — at all levels — to receive thorough education on the rules and risks of sports betting to help protect themselves, their team, sport, mental health, finances and future," Franklin said.
Doing more
In light of the ongoing issues, the NCAA has stepped up its efforts to help problem gambling and its effects. The NCAA announced last week that it’s working with state lawmakers in legal sports betting states, including those getting ready to launch operations, to protect student-athletes from harassment.
College sports’ governing body is seeking regulations to increase penalties for harassing student-athletes as well as a hotline for reporting issues.
With sports betting legal in 38 states, the NCAA has had to drastically change its approach, which also involves changing penalties for athletes involved in placing wagers and protecting integrity.
