The NCAA is edging closer to a rule change that would let Division I student-athletes wager on professional sports.
The NCAA Division I Administrative Committee adopted a proposal Wednesday which would "permit student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports," the NCAA said in a release.
Betting on college sports would remain prohibited under the change, which is not yet official.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here's what to know about the potential new rules on college athletes betting on professional sports.
MORE: Projecting the College Football Playoff entering Week 7
NCAA sports betting rules
Previously, NCAA athletes were prohibited from gambling on any college or professional sport sponsored by the organization, as well as from sharing information about college competitions with other bettors. Despite the growth of sports betting in the U.S., the NCAA has maintained that student-athletes cannot wager on professional sporting events.
If the proposal adopted Wednesday becomes official, that policy would partially change. The Division I committee approved a measure allowing student-athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports—but not on collegiate sports.
The NCAA also said in its release that Divisions II and III are "expected to consider the proposal during their respective meetings" at the end of October. Should the lower divisions also approve the change, it would go into effect on Nov. 1, 2025.
The change would only affect professional sports betting, and would "not impact rules prohibiting advertising and sponsorships associated with sports betting for NCAA Championships."
"The enforcement staff continues to investigate and resolve cases involving sports betting quickly but thoroughly," NCAA vice president of enforcement Jon Duncan said in the statement about the proposed change. "Enforcement staff are investigating a significant number of cases that are specifically relevant to the NCAA's mission of fair competition, and our focus will remain on those cases and those behaviors that impact the integrity of college sports most directly."
The NCAA committee also "emphasized" that the proposed change is not an endorsement of sports betting and that they remain "concerned" with the risks of it, but "ultimately voted to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers."
In recent years, the NCAA has dealt with various sports betting violations from student-athletes. In its statement, the NCAA said it "uses a layered strategy with integrity monitoring services to monitor more than 22,000 college sports contests each year to detect unusual line activities or other issues."
Past violations include a Fresno State men's basketball player who "manipulated his own performance for gambling purposes and conspired with two other players in a prop betting scheme," per ESPN, and investigations of 13 other student-athletes from six schools "regarding potential gambling violations dealing with integrity issues."
NCAA officials also "emphasized" that the proposed change is not an endorsement of sports betting and that they remain "concerned" with the risks of it.
MORE: How long will Bill Belichick last at North Carolina?
Can college athletes bet on pro sports?
Under the proposed rule change, college athletes would be allowed to bet on professional sports. The change is not yet official — it has been approved by the Division I committee but still requires approval from Divisions II and III. If finalized, the rule would take effect on Nov. 1.
Can college athletes bet on college sports?
Student-athletes cannot bet on college sports, and that would not be changing under the proposed rule changes. The NCAA has emphasized its prohibition of its athletes betting on college sports, or sharing information about college competitions with other bettors.
While the NCAA said in its statement that that it remains "concerned" with the risks of sports betting, the Division I committee voted to allow betting on pro sports "to reduce restrictions on student-athletes in this area to better align with their campus peers."