Integrity in play: NCAA’s stance amid sports betting scandals
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has postponed the implementation of its newly approved betting rule, which would allow college athletes and athletic department staff to wager on professional sports, from 1 November to 22 November. This comes amid US basketball being rocked by sports betting scandals, from the NBA’s high-profile indictments to the NCAA’s 13 ongoing investigations into six college programmes, cases that have reignited urgent debate about gambling integrity in American sports.
In an exclusive discussion with SiGMA News, Mark Hicks, Managing Director of Enforcement, and Clint Hangebrauck, Managing Director of Enterprise Risk Management at the NCAA, spoke about the widening integrity risks, and the NCAA’s strategy to restore trust.
“It’s an indication of the dangers and realities of sports betting in the United States,” Hicks said. “The US is still a relatively immature regulated market. Regulators, law enforcement, and the NCAA are still learning how to work together to identify and deal with integrity matters.”
‘An ever-evolving ecosystem’ of betting risks
The NCAA has seen a surge in enforcement cases involving student-athletes since the 2018 legalisation of sports betting in the US. Hicks said the challenge is growing as new forms of wagering, such as daily fantasy and prediction markets, continue to blur regulatory boundaries. “We have to remain hyper-vigilant,” Hicks emphasised.
“With 39 states having different systems, it’s an ever-evolving ecosystem of ways that student-athletes can engage in wagering. Staying on top of that is key.”
– Mark Hicks, NCAA Managing Director of Enforcement
Hangebrauck added that inconsistent laws across states make cooperation difficult. “We’ve advocated for certain safeguards and consistency across states, such as mandatory harassment reporting, penalties, and cross-state data sharing when bettors harass athletes or solicit insider information,” he explained.
In some states, individuals who contact players or coaches for inside tips are placed on “involuntary self-exclusion” lists, preventing them from betting. The NCAA wants that model expanded nationwide.
Federal consistency and a seat at the table
Asked whether federal involvement could help, Hicks stopped short of endorsing full federal control but said uniform rules are essential. “The more consistent we are across the board, the better it will be,” Hicks said. “States do a great job; they just have different laws.”
To that end, the NCAA has sought a seat at the table when states draft or amend gambling laws, pushing for age restrictions (21+ minimum), advertising limits on college campuses, and funding for gambling education from state tax revenue. “There’s a lot of tax revenue being generated,” Hangebrauck noted. “Having a portion of it support educational programmes within higher education is a real positive step.”
Daily Fantasy: “If it quacks like a duck…”
Daily fantasy apps, which operate outside traditional sportsbook rules, remain a grey area. Some college athletes reportedly participate in them despite restrictions. “We don’t draw a huge distinction between daily fantasy, prediction markets, or traditional betting,” Hicks said about the participation. “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.”
The NCAA maintains what Hangebrauck calls a “common principles” framework across all betting types, aiming to protect competition integrity, safeguard student-athletes from harassment, and ensure consistent oversight.
Advertising exposure driving risk
Meanwhile, the 2023 NCAA survey found that 63 percent of student-athletes were exposed to sports betting ads, and more than half said they were more likely to bet after seeing them.
“President [Charlie] Baker has expressed deep concern over the proliferation of sports betting advertising and its impact on student-athletes,” Hangebrauck said. “We’ve pushed for restrictions on marketing towards college students.”
The NCAA does not allow any fantasy or sportsbook advertising during its championships, he confirmed, calling the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) updated marketing code, which prohibits targeting college students, a “very positive step.”
AI powering integrity investigations
Technology now plays a pivotal role in the NCAA’s monitoring systems. Hicks confirmed that AI-driven analytics and geolocation tools have become integral to enforcement.
“We use integrity monitoring programmes like Sportradar that employ AI,” Hicks said. “Geolocation is essential to our investigations, especially for mobile betting. These tools are evolving quickly, and they’re vital for detecting suspicious activity.”
Rule change allowing student-athletes to bet on pro sports
The NCAA recently approved a rule change allowing college athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports. The new policy was endorsed by Divisions I, II, and III of the association. It also marks a shift from the association’s long-standing prohibition on nearly all forms of sports betting by those involved in collegiate athletics. However, the implementation date of the policy now stands delayed following a 30-day membership rescission period.
The delay comes just days after SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, urging the Division I Board of Directors to rescind the rule entirely. Sankey warned that the change would undermine the long-standing separation between college sports and gambling.
Hangebrauck said discussions included experts from the National Council on Problem Gambling and mental health professionals to assess potential harm. “If betting were allowed in a regulated environment, athletes might feel safer reporting problems without fearing eligibility consequences,” he added. “Transparency can help us detect illicit behaviour earlier.”
NCAA’s top integrity priorities
Looking ahead, Hicks outlined three key priorities for the NCAA over the next 18 months. These include strengthening detection systems for betting-related manipulation, expanding education on betting risks for student-athletes and staff, and encouraging open reporting channels for athletes approached by gamblers. “We can’t act unless people feel safe to come forward,” Hicks said. “Creating open dialogue on campuses is crucial to tackling integrity issues.”
As investigations expand beyond the NBA into college basketball programmes nationwide, the NCAA’s message is clear: fragmented regulation is fueling risk. “We’re still learning how to navigate this new environment,” Hicks concluded. “The key is collaboration, between regulators, schools, and the betting industry, to protect the integrity of college sports.”
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