NCAA Study: Education Shows Promise in Changing Sports Betting Behaviors

A new NCAA survey of the gambling behaviors of more than 20,000 student-athletes, the fifth such NCAA study on the topic since 2004 but the first since a 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowed states to legally operate sportsbooks, is providing an in-depth view into how the quickly changing sports betting landscape in the U.S. is impacting those who play NCAA sports.  

Even with the proliferation of legal sports betting in the United States since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, similar percentages of NCAA student-athletes reported betting on sports for money in 2016 and 2024. 

In 2016, even though sports betting was only legal in any form in a few states, 24% of student-athletes on men's teams reported violating NCAA bylaws within the previous year by betting on sports (legally or illegally) one or more times for money. By the end of 2024, 38 states offered legal and operational sports betting, yet only 22% of NCAA men reported betting (legally or illegally) on sports at least once in the prior 12 months. This slight drop in the percentage of men placing any bet that violated NCAA bylaws was observed in each of the three NCAA divisions. About 5% of NCAA women's sport participants in both 2016 and 2024 reported betting on sports at least once in the prior year.

 "We need to continue to focus on education and additional harm prevention techniques in this space," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "Most young people are exposed to gambling while they're in high school, and by the time they graduate college, some develop an unhealthy relationship with betting. We are focused on supporting student-athletes and providing them with resources to combat these behaviors."  

Research shows that when the number of men who bet frequently on sports is examined, a more nuanced and concerning story emerges. Slight decreases were observed in the percentage of Division I men betting on sports once a month or more. However, such frequent bettors were more numerous in Division II and especially in Division III in 2024 as compared with 2016. 

For example, in 2016, 12% of Division III men bet on sports once per month or more versus 17% in 2024. In the men's sports that have traditionally had the highest proportion of sports bettors over the last 20 years across divisions (baseball, basketball, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer), the percentage of Division III men who said they bet on sports once a month or more in 2024 grew substantially in aggregate relative to 2016. The percentages for those sports individually for Division III men ranged from 15% to more than 25%. The Division I range of such frequent sports betting among participants in those same seven men's sports was 2% to 8% in 2024. 

While most forms of sports betting are against NCAA rules, the NCAA modernized penalties for wagering activities in 2023 in a commitment to reduce the stigma and get help to those in need as opposed to strictly punishing those student-athletes with a loss of eligibility. 

"It remains essential that we continue to embrace and implement harm reduction strategies that lower risk and foster prevention of problem gambling," NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Casiero said. "We remain committed to research-backed methods of promoting healthy behaviors to support our student-athletes and to reduce the stigma associated with problem gambling."

Both men and women view gambling as a social activity, with 85% of men and 95% of women saying they are most likely to gamble with family, a romantic partner, teammates or friends outside of sports. One notable change since the previous survey in 2016 is that more men, who data show are most prone to problem gambling disorders, are gambling alone (6% in 2016 versus 15% in 2024). The primary concern about gambling alone is that problem gambling behaviors may remain unknown to the bettor's family, friends, teammates and coaches.

Most of the sports betting behaviors of student-athletes involve relatively low stakes. The largest self-reported one-day sports betting loss among NCAA athletes who ever bet on sports was less than $50 for two-thirds of men and 90% of women. However, there are more reported instances of large losses in the new data. For instance, 2% of men reported single-day losses of $500 or more in 2016, while 5% of men reported such losses in 2024.

The increase in sports betting opportunities in the U.S. correlates with the increases noted in NCAA athletes being asked for inside information. However, perhaps because of campus educational efforts, the percentage of Division I student-athletes reporting that they knowingly provided inside information remains lower in 2024 than seen when these surveys began in 2004.

The NCAA collaborates with EPIC Global Solutions to deliver the world's largest comprehensive and customized sports betting harm prevention education program. Since the first full year of EPIC's collaboration with the NCAA in 2022, EPIC has completed education sessions at over 260 schools and 70 conferences in 47 states. Over 75,000 student-athletes, coaches and administrators have been reached as part of the NCAA's education efforts with EPIC.

As for betting-related harassment, many high-profile men and women reported experiencing harassment from someone with a betting interest in their competition. Among the highest rates, 21% of Division I student-athletes in men's tennis reported experiencing harassment from bettors, while 17% of Division I men's basketball student-athletes reported such harassment.

Gambling harm education remains a key focus of the NCAA. The national office and representatives from member schools continuously work together to determine best practices for addressing the sports wagering landscape. The Association will continue to enhance and expand its offering of resources and initiatives to promote student-athlete well-being and the integrity of college athletics. For more information on the NCAA's sports betting rules and resources, visit this link.

To read the full study, click this link.