Answer to “Can an NCAA athlete gamble on poker“: No. The NCAA maintains its strict ban on sports gambling, even after states legalized betting via Supreme Court ruling. Even though college students technically may place bets, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should; gambling addiction is one of the most damaging behaviors affecting young people today, and can have serious repercussions that jeopardize academic and athletic eligibility as well as lead them down an unpredictable path of addiction and crime.
The NCAA’s Division I Council coordination committee recently changed their reinstatement guidelines regarding gambling violations. Under previous reinstatement policies, athletes who wagered in any sport for which the NCAA offers championships could lose eligibility, regardless of whether their bet was placed online or offline. With effect as of May 2, new reinstatement guidelines reduced penalties and mandated education on gambling rules and prevention as part of the reinstatement process for student-athletes caught gambling.
While these changes to reinstatement guidelines won’t affect student-athletes already serving suspensions, they could help those caught violating NCAA gambling rules this season. According to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, both Iowa State and Alabama self-reported multiple athletes engaging in sports gambling activities this season – even if these scandals didn’t involve point shaving or game fixing schemes but will still have players sitting out much of the season due to suspension.
As well as reinstatement guidelines, the NCAA has also unveiled an online learning module designed to inform current and potential student-athletes on the harms caused by problem gambling. Research shows that video presentations incorporating both personal and shared experiences resonate well with audiences.
Although more than half of American adults have taken part in some form of gambling activity, the NCAA remains firm on its stance against it. A 2012 study conducted by this organization discovered that more than 50 percent of male student-athletes have engaged in some form of gambling activity with over half reporting participation in an NCAA basketball or football pool as an example.
While some college leaders remain resistant to relaxing the NCAA’s stringent prohibition of sports gambling, others are more open to changing its bylaws to reflect societal trends. Few years ago, NCAA allowed athletes to profit from endorsement deals and use social media accounts for endorsement deals and personal profit-seeking. That was an important concession to the reality of youth gambling behavior, yet it remains vitally important to take measures to protect their mental health if they choose this path. Get in touch with Kindbridge now to discover our gambling disorder treatment services; our licensed addiction counselors can give you all of the tools you need to regain control of your life! Our phone lines are always open – call now!