NCAA updates sports gambling policies

Sports gambling on college games will main restricted

The NCAA is vehemently opposed to sports gambling on college games. It made this perfectly clear when it worked with other sports organizations more than 17 years ago to convince lawmakers that PASPA was a good idea. While a limited number of states have legalized gambling on college sports, several have decided to stay away because of the NCAA’s views. Of course, if the states were willing to give the NCAA a cut of the action, it would jump on the subject. However because that isn’t going to happen, it will continue to fight against college gambling and isn’t willing to help support the market in any way.
 
The NCAA Board of Governors met this week and decided that no injury report will be required from teams. If the teams choose to publish a report, similar to that seen in professional sports, it’s their prerogative, but the group isn’t going to make them mandatory. 
 
Injury reports are used for many reasons, but are a valuable component in the sports gambling industry. They help sportsbooks establish odds and create wagers and have been part of the game almost as long as the game itself. 
 
After the meeting of the Board of Directors this week, NCAA Chairman and Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake stated, “The ad hoc committee gathered thorough feedback from conference commissioners, athletics administrators, athletic trainers, and student-athletes across all three divisions about potential player availability reporting. The membership has significant concerns about the purpose, parameters, enforcement, and effectiveness of a player availability reporting model.”
 
The arguments are based on the NCAA’s assertion that college sports are about teaching sportsmanship, discipline and responsibility, as well as preparing athletes for a post-graduation future. However, the NCAA has around $1.1 billion in annual revenue and it is definitely money-driven. Perhaps it’s also concerned that support for sports gambling would bring more skeletons out of the closet.