November 2011 Rules EducationAbilene Christian University

The Threat to Collegiate AthleticsThe explosive growth of gambling has caused

a noticeable increase in the number of sports wagering-related cases processed by the NCAA and threatens the integrity of college sports.

The Threat to Collegiate AthleticsStudent-athletes are viewed by organized

crime and organized gambling as easy marks. When student-athletes place bets with a bookie, they have jeopardized their eligibility and have broken the law. The bookie now is in control. If a student-athlete is sufficiently indebted or addicted, point shaving often is introduced as a way out.

The Threat to Collegiate AthleticsBookies also use students as "runners" to

collect debts and parlay sheets for which the bookie pays a commission. Gamblers also pay a commission for information related to sports teams (e.g., injury reports, morale, game plans and discipline issues).

Facts on College GamblingFBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is

wagered illegally on March Madness28% of Division II Male student-athletes and

7 percent of female student-athletes reported wagering on sporting events within the past year according the NCAA 2008 Research

The Don’t Bet on it Web site is an NCAA instrument used to educate student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the general public about NCAA rules on sports wagering. www.dontbetonit.org

The NCAA opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering. Sports wagering has the

potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests, and jeopardizes the welfare of student-

athletes and the intercollegiate athletics community.

The NCAA's Position on GamblingFor these reasons, the NCAA membership adopted NCAA

Bylaw 10.3 prohibiting athletics department staff members and student-athletes from engaging in gambling activities as they relate to intercollegiate or professional sporting events.

NCAA Bylaw 10.3 stipulates that staff members of the athletics department of a member institution and student-athletes shall not knowingly:

Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;

Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team; Accept a bet on any team representing the institution; or Participate in any gambling activity that involves

intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.

In response to this problem, the NCAA has enhanced communication lines with the FBI, the National

Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League

Baseball in sharing pertinent information related to gambling and organized crime.

NCAA InitiativesThe NCAA uses video programs to educate

our member schools' student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators. The Association also is producing brochures and posters in an effort to bring the message to the schools about sports gambling.

For further information regarding this NCAA program, contact the NCAA's sports wagering staff at 317/917-6222.

Don’t Bet On It Video

2008 NCAA ResearchRecent research by the NCAA (conducted in

2008) indicates that sports wagering occurs in every division and that student-athletes in every sport are vulnerable, particularly for wagering at a social level.

Male student-athletes are more likely to gamble than women, and golfers tend to be at high risk for engaging in sports wagering.

The study found that 28 percent of male athletes and 6 percent of female athletes in Division II wager on sports.

2008 NCAA ResearchSelf Reported Beliefs of SAsMost athletes in college violate NCAA rules

regarding sports wagering. 54% of males and 39% females believe so.

Sports wagering is acceptable as long as you wager on a sport other than the one in which you participate. 52% of males and 27% females believe it is acceptable.

No one really gets hurt when athletes violate NCAA rules on sports wagering. 47% of males and 27% of females feel no one is hurt.

I think sports wagering is harmless. 53% of males and 32% of females feel it is a harmless pastime.

2008 NCAA ResearchSelf Reported Beliefs of SAs29.1% of male student-athletes believe that

coaches are aware if teammates are gambling on sports once per month or greater.

38.7% of male student-athletes believe the coach knows if teammates are gambling less than once per month while, 42.9% of female student-athletes believe the coach is aware.

Student-Athletes self reported that the most effective ways to influence them not to wager on sports comes from….

2008 NCAA ResearchSelf Reported Beliefs of SAs

Coach Males 3.98 out of 5 (agreement scale, 3=somewhat

agree, 4=agree, etc.)

Females 4.08 our of 5Own Values Males 3.68 out of 5 (agreement scale, 3=somewhat

agree, 4=agree, etc.)

Females 4.15 our of 5Teammates Males 3.68 out of 5 (agreement scale, 3=somewhat

agree, 4=agree, etc.)

Females 4.15 our of 5Athletic Dept. Males 3.65 out of 5 (agreement scale, 3=somewhat

agree, 4=agree, etc.)

Females 3.89 our of 5

Gambling and Sport WageringTalk to your teams and direct them to the

Don’t bet on it website. http://www.dontbetonit.org/intro.aspx

Watch for warning signs

Warning SignsCalls to 800 or 900 telephone numbersInterested in point spreads Interested in little known about gamesHanging out with other bettorsBeing for a team one day and drastically against

it the nextFrequently hitting up family or friends for loansExtremely defensive if talked with about

gamblingLots of unpaid bills, debt and financial troublesGoing to others to help bail them out of trouble

National Council on Problem Gamblingwww.ncpgambling.org