The NCAA has strict rules prohibiting any kind of sports betting by college students, athletes, coaches, or anyone else involved in college sports. NCAA Statutes 10 and 3 specifically prohibit sports gambling, and the organization views paid fantasy leagues as a form of gambling. Despite this, a survey conducted last year by the NCAA found that 26 percent of male student athletes admitted to betting on sports, and 8 percent bet on sports at least once a month. The NCAA's stance on fantasy sports is that they are games of chance and could be used to get money into the hands of student athletes.
This is why they have taken a hard stance against fantasy sports, even suspending five baseball players from the University of Richmond for participating in Fantasy Football. Men who participate in NCAA golf are three times more likely to bet on sports than other student-athletes. The NCAA also found that 20 percent of NCAA athletes participate in fantasy sports leagues with entry fees and cash prizes. To protect the integrity of college sports competitions, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from betting money on any sporting event (college, professional, or otherwise) in which the NCAA organizes college championships.
Sports betting can have negative consequences for student-athletes, even if the behavior is not classified as excessive or pathological. The most effective ways to influence student-athletes not to bet on sports (as reported by student-athletes who bet on sports last year) include educating them about the risks associated with betting and providing support for those who may be struggling with gambling addiction.
