The NCAA Regulations on Gambling    

The NCAA, as a membership, opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering.  Sports wagering undermines the integrity of the intercollegiate athletics community and jeopardizes the welfare of student-athletes.  By sending a message contrary to the true meaning of "sport," sports wagering demeans the competition and competitors alike.

The 2003 National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering found that of 2,000 football players surveyed, 102 admitted to at least one of the following extreme gambling behaviors: taking money to play poorly in a game, knowing a teammate who took money to play poorly in a game, being threatened or harmed because of sports wagering, being contacted by an outside source to share inside information, or actually providing inside information on a game.

Student-athletes are susceptible to gambling behaviors for several reasons.  First, organized crime targets those with valuable inside information that could affect a game -- exactly the kind of information teammates have about each other.  Second, problem gamblers often exploit student-athletes, coaches, and officials because they have the ability to directly impact a game.  Problem gamblers tend to be competitive, highly motivated individuals who believe their skill will allow them to win.  Without those characteristics, no athlete would be at the top of their game.  However, those same attributes can place student-athletes at risk; studies have shown that student-athletes who gamble are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors.  Further, with the exception of a small number of government-sponsored lotteries and parlay betting programs, sports wagering is illegal in every state except Nevada.

In response, former NCAA President Myles Brand formed a national task force to recommend strategies to counteract sports wagering among student-athletes.  Today, the NCAA conducts targeted educational campaigns, conducts background checks on officials, and works closely with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney General, the NFL, coaches associations, and Vegas sports books operators to monitor sports wagering trends and effects on athletics contests.  The NCAA membership has also adopted specific rules prohibiting student-athletes, coaches, officials, and staff members of institutions, conference offices, and the national office from engaging in gambling activities as they relate to any level of sports.  Bylaw 10.3 of the NCAA rulebook prohibits all those affiliated with college sports, including coaches and student-athletes, from soliciting or accepting a bet on sports or knowingly providing information to those involved in sports wagering.  A student-athlete who participates in any gambling activity involving sports will lose his or her eligibility to compete in NCAA athletics for a minimum of one year.  Further, any student-athlete associated with gambling activity involving his or her own institution shall permanently lose his or her eligibility to compete in NCAA sports.

Sports wagering involves every sport at every level.  Recent gambling cases processed by the NCAA agent, gambling and amateurism activities department have ranged from  student-athletes making friendly bets over a scrimmage, university staff members organizing Final Four office pools, student-athletes entering online fantasy leagues, to student-athletes having to sell athletics equipment to cover their debts to a bookie.  Every student-athlete needs to know that problem gambling and its consequences can affect them.  "Don't Bet On It!"

Watch this short Public Service Announcement on Gambling:  Dontbetonit.org - Movie Trailer

The opinions of the writers do not necessarily represent the opinion of the NFL.