CSMAS Holds Preliminary Discussion on Sports Betting Rules

The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) held an informational discussion on sports betting on Monday after all three NCAA divisions met to discuss modifications to sports wagering policies.

CSMAS members discussed deregulating sports betting, which could allow student-athletes to bet on professional sports

CSMAS members, who also met in Indianapolis last month, discussed the possible deregulation of sports betting, which could allow student-athletes to bet on professional sports.

The membership requested initial feedback from CSMAS on the health, safety, and well-being considerations involved with deregulation. If the NCAA sponsors a sport, NCAA student-athletes are not permitted to bet on professional, intercollegiate, or other amateur competition in that sport.

For student-athletes who are found to have violated NCAA rules, various penalties can be applied, which include partial to permanent losses of eligibility.

According to the NCAA’s news release, the CSMAS specifically discussed these questions:

• Do policy prohibitions work to prevent gambling disorders?
• Have current NCAA prohibitions prevented sports betting by student-athletes?
• What are the most effective strategies for preventing problem or disordered gambling?
• What makes for effective educational programs for the prevention of problem or disordered gambling?

The legalization of sports betting in recent years has prompted the CSMAS to establish a new framework to protect student-athletes. Committee members add that prohibitions are currently ineffective at preventing “unwanted gambling behaviors.” Of course, current rules have failed to stop student-athletes from gambling.

Committee is recommending harm-reduction strategies

Furthermore, initial feedback from CSMAS emphasized harm-reduction strategies. Schools can use those methods to prevent, identify, and create referral and treatment pathways for student-athletes.

CSMAS will continue its discussion of the topic as the divisions continue their debate.

Additionally, CSMAS voted to support reinstatement of the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program data request process. The program facilitates the sharing of injury surveillance data to researchers at NCAA member schools working on sport injury epidemiology projects.

Details of the process have been in moratorium since 2018. They could be finalized in early 2025. Protecting student-athletes from gambling disorders remains one of the NCAA’s top priorities.

In July, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte had his underage gambling and computer fraud charges dropped by the state of Louisiana.

Boutte, 22, was arrested in January in Baton Rouge over allegations of illegal sports betting while he played at LSU. The Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division found that Boutte bet on sports from April 6, 2022, until May 7, 2023, when he was 20.

Boutte allegedly used an alias to bypass the age requirement for placing sports wagers in Louisiana. The alias account had more than 8,900 wagers, with at least 17 bets on NCAA football games. At least six involved LSU, per a police report.