NCAA athletes and staff will officially not be allowed to bet on pro sports following a vote to rescind rule changes that would have permitted non-collegiate gambling on sportsbooks.
Announced on November 21, the decision to effectively veto a successful motion to allow professional sports wagering comes after significant controversies concerning athlete betting.
Pro sports betting had been scheduled to start November 1
After being cleared by all three NCAA Divisions, betting on professional sports events was expected to commence on November 1.
However, as the Division I vote did not hit the 75% majority threshold required to lock in this measure, DI schools could reverse the decision for all categories via an electronic ballot within 30 days.
Over two-thirds of registered Division I schools agreed to repeal the pro sports betting scheme 30 minutes before the voting window closed on November 24, reinforcing a longstanding ban on sports-focused gambling among college athletes.
The decision was verified by an NCAA statement: “After a procedural 30-day period, two-thirds of Division I member schools have voted to rescind a previously approved rule change that would have allowed student-athletes and athletics department staff members to legally participate in sports betting on professional sports only.”
Opposing forces win out as stakeholders resist sports gambling
If the motion to authorize gambling on professional sports events had succeeded, an existing blanket ban on collegiate event wagering would have remained in place.
But, crucial stakeholders remained steadfastly against any form of gambling – such as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. In October, Sankey wrote to NCAA President Charlie Baker delineating his opposition to pro sports wagering. Baker had originally supported the idea of college athletes betting on professional sports.
Sankey’s stance eventually prevailed, as the NCAA confirmed that a prohibition on sports wagering will remain intact across all divisions: “Because sports betting rules are common legislation, the ban on all forms of betting – for sports in which the NCAA sponsors a championship – will remain in place for all three NCAA divisions.”
College athletes caught in gambling controversies amid proposed rule change
Several current and former collegiate athletes have been found guilty of illegal sports gambling in recent weeks – bringing to light key concerns that may have swayed officials to walk back on wagering.
In late November 2025, ex-Temple University guard Hysier Miller was reported as having placed bets for and against his former Division I basketball team. And, earlier in the same month, six NCAA men’s basketball athletes were banned from competing after an investigation determined that they had engaged in match-fixing-adjacent betting activities.
Two months prior, three NCAA basketball players from San Jose State and Fresno State were also blocked from competing for gambling-related transgressions.
These issues have also extended to the NBA, where over 30 individuals were arrested in October as part of an FBI investigation into sports gambling affairs. Notable names in that inquiry include Portland Trail Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and retired NBA and college combo guard Damon Jones.
According to officials, more than a dozen further investigations remain active.
