NCAA Delays Pro Sports Betting Rule Allowing Athlete Participation

The NCAA has delayed the implementation of a new rule that would allow college athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports, pushing the effective date from November 1 to November 22 to accommodate a membership rescission period. This delay follows significant opposition, notably from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who urged the NCAA to rescind the rule change, citing concerns over athlete vulnerability and the integrity of collegiate sports. The rescission period allows schools to vote to overturn the rule, which was initially approved without reaching a 75% majority in the Division I cabinet. The NCAA maintains that betting on college sports remains prohibited, and the new policy does not endorse sports betting but recognizes the evolving sports environment. The delay also comes amid heightened scrutiny of sports gambling, including recent NBA-related betting scandals involving insider information. The NCAA is effectively buying time to allow further input and possibly reconsider the rule in light of ongoing concerns about gambling's impact on college athletics.