The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has confirmed a delay in implementing its new sports betting policy, initially scheduled to take effect this month. The organization announced that the policy will be postponed until 22 November, following formal opposition from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and mounting concern among federal lawmakers.
Under the proposed rules, college athletes and athletic department staff would be permitted to place bets on professional sports though wagering on college-level events would remain prohibited. However, the policy’s passage through the Division I Council fell short of the 75% approval threshold, triggering a 30-day review period that has now evolved into a full reconsideration.
The SEC’s formal objection letter raised alarms over potential threats to sports integrity and athlete welfare. Lawmakers, led by Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, echoed those concerns, calling for an official investigation into the NCAA’s decision-making process. Guthrie’s statements questioned how the NCAA could reconcile its earlier warnings about the risks of gambling exposure for student-athletes with a proposal to permit professional sports wagering.
For now, the NCAA has reaffirmed that all existing restrictions remain in place during the review. The organization stated that the pause allows for additional consultation with member institutions and a broader assessment of compliance risks.
This development reflects the growing tension between evolving sports betting regulations and collegiate athletic governance. As the legalization of betting continues to expand across the US, the NCAA’s decision may serve as a pivotal test case for how traditional sports institutions adapt to the rapidly shifting iGaming landscape.
