Aston, PA- March is upon us! Neumann University is on spring break this week while other institutions- both local and national- are preparing for the NCAA winter championship season to begin. March Madness can be maddening for any NCAA compliance office and many NCAA student athletes and coaches who might not be aware about some of the details about sports wagering.
So let's take a closer look so all of our community, athletes and athletic department support staff are accquainted with the rules.
In January, the NCAA created a presentation about sports wagering for the Super Bowl that can be found here.
The document reminds about NCAA Division III Bylaw 10.3:
The following individuals shall not knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition:
(a) Staff members of an institution's athletics department;
(b) Nonathletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department
(e.g., chancellor or president, faculty athletics representative, individual to whom athletics reports);
(c) Staff members of a conference office; and
(d) Student-athletes.
In layman's terms- any of the people listed above cannot participate in any activity that has an entry fee with a promise of a prize if they win.
That means no pools. No brackets. No fantasy leagues. No bookies. No parlay cards. No Internet betting. Nothing where a person can pay and have a chance to win betting on any sports.
Also, anyone from the group above cannot be involved in
point shaving or
spot fixing.
The consequences of participating in these activities are VERY steep- and for good reason. The NCAA is serious about this. If a person is found guilty of betting, point shaving or spot fixing for any athletic event at his or her institution, he or she will be permanently ineligible.
Otherwise, if a person if found guilty of sports wagering with by way of the Internet, a bookie or parlay card, he or she will be ineligible for a minimum of one calendar year from that date.
For more information from the NCAA visit their site dedicated to sports wagering at
dontbetonit.org.
