Sankey Urges NCAA to Reverse Athlete Betting Rule

The NCAA is set to lift its long-standing ban on college athletes wagering on professional sports effective Nov. 1 after administrative committees in Divisions I, II and III approved the change. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sent a letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker on Oct. 25 urging the Division I board to rescind the rule, saying SEC presidents and chancellors were “clear and united” that it is a “major step in the wrong direction.” Sankey warned the removal of the ban threatens competitive integrity and increases athletes’ vulnerability, citing recent gambling scandals including FBI arrests tied to NBA betting and alleged college betting schemes. The NCAA says it will keep prohibitions on betting on college contests, sharing insider information, and allowing betting companies to sponsor championships, and frames the policy shift as a pragmatic response to rapid legalization that has complicated enforcement.