In this week’s Film Room, we examine the heightened risks of sports betting applicable to the college game and measures institutions can take to keep them in check.
Just a few years ago, sports talk hosts would coyly say they liked teams “a lot,” leaving the listener to conclude the expert liked the favorite to cover the spread. The historical hesitancy to allude directly to sports betting has largely disappeared—now, one seemingly cannot watch a sporting event without observing a stream of sports betting advertisements. Taking no position on whether that’s good, it’s undeniable that the proliferation of sports betting has raised substantial risks regarding the integrity of the game.
No doubt, you’re aware of last week’s gambling scandal. An ESPN report from earlier this week quoted a memo sent to NBA teams warning of the “dire risks” of sports betting. Of course, these risks are not unique to the NBA or other professional leagues. In fact, the expanse of college sports, with more off-the-radar games than pro sports, and more susceptible targets—student-athletes who are, in general, younger and less wealthy than their pro counterparts—leave the college game open to greater exposure.
The NCAA has led the public discourse regarding these risks. Following last week’s news, NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement, noting he is “proud that the NCAA continues to have the most aggressive competition integrity policies in place.” Indeed, the NCAA has aggressively guarded against sports betting risks. The NCAA’s enforcement staff has investigated and processed several impactful sports betting cases (see recent examples here and here). And the NCAA offers education to campuses that warns of, and endeavors to protect student-athletes from, the “dire risks” that sports betting invites.
In addition to availing themselves of the NCAA’s education modules, institutions and conferences can further reduce risks by sharpening internal policies, educating on those policies, and strengthening monitoring efforts—both qualitatively and by implementing sophisticated methodologies that detect high-risk behavior before it escalates.
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