NCAA Sports Betting Rules Should be Relaxed, Says Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz
Legendary Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz is set to celebrate his 200th win leading an NCAA Division I football program this fall. However, he's not focused on this achievement; instead, his attention is on the NCAA's ongoing discussions about governing student-athletes and their involvement in sports betting.
Currently, more than two dozen student-athletes at the University of Iowa are being investigated by the NCAA for their alleged participation in sports betting activities. Despite sports betting being legal in Iowa, both in person at the state's casinos and online through internet sportsbooks, the NCAA requires its student players to abstain from placing sports bets.
In the past, the NCAA had a strict one-year suspension for student-athletes found guilty of violating the sports betting rule. However, in June, under the new leadership of President Charlie Baker, the NCAA introduced less severe penalties for sports betting infractions.
The NCAA stated last month that student-athletes who engage in "activities to influence the outcomes of their games or knowingly provided information to individuals involved in sports betting activities" will continue to face a loss of an entire season. On the other hand, those who bet on sports other than their own, or on sports they don't play, would see reduced penalties based on the amount wagered. For example, a student-athlete who bet $200 or less would be required to attend sports betting education classes, while those who placed wagers of up to $500 could face up to a 10% loss of a season. For bets between $500 and $800, the potential penalties range from 10% to 20% losses of a season, and for bets over $800, the NCAA will consider penalties of 30% or more of a season loss. If a student-athlete is found to be gambling excessively, they would face permanent ineligibility.
During the Big Ten's Media Days last week, Ferentz expressed his concerns about the NCAA's new penalty structure. "Our world has changed dramatically," he said about sports and gambling. "I'm hopeful that it's an opportunity for the NCAA to reconsider two things: what punishments might be fair and relevant to the world we're living in now. And probably the bigger thing, there's an opportunity right now for a better education process."
Ferentz suggests that the NFL's sports betting rules, which allow players to bet on all sports except for the NFL, is a more logical regulatory strategy. "I think what the NFL has done with their rules makes a lot of sense," he commented.
Recently, Iowa University and Iowa State confirmed that they are under investigation by the NCAA for various student-athletes who have allegedly bet on sports in violation of the association's rules. University of Iowa officials revealed that 26 of their student-athletes are involved in the probe, accused by the NCAA of sports gambling.
Ferentz clarified this week that most of the alleged infractions do not involve his football team. "Long story short, we don't know what the outcome is going to be," he said of the ongoing review. "I don't think anyone condones gambling, especially on the college game. I think your number one concern is anyone gambling on your team. That's what the instruction should be about."
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Source: www.casino.org
