NCAA Studies Athletes’ Betting

An NCAA gambling study found 35% of male athletes and 10% of female athletes have bet on college sports in the last year, and Division III athletes are the most likely to gamble.

Division I athletes were the least likely to wager on college sports.

The study, called the National Study on Collegiate Sports Wagering and Associated Health Risks, surveyed 21,000 athletes about their gambling practices. The results were released Wednesday in Chicago.

“The scope of sports wagering among intercollegiate student-athletes is startling and disturbing,” NCAA President Myles Brand said in a statement. “Sports wagering is a double threat, because it harms the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of college sports.”

The study also showed 1.1% of football players reported taking money for playing poorly in games. While 2.3% of football players admitted they were asked to influence the outcome of games because of gambling debts, 1.4% acknowledged altering their performance to change the outcome.

Golfers, wrestlers, lacrosse and football players were the most likely male athletes to wager on college sports. Female athletes who gamble were more likely to compete in golf, lacrosse, basketball and field hockey.

In response to the findings, Brand chose Notre Dame’s president, Father Edward A. Malloy, to head a national task force that will analyze the results and recommend strategies to change gambling habits among athletes. Grant Teaff, the American Football Coaches Assn.’s executive director, will be the task force’s vice chairman.

Expected recommendations may include expanding education efforts, changing NCAA rules and seeking state and federal legislation.

The task force also will examine the study’s findings on whether alcohol or drug use, which the surveyed athletes also were questioned about, may be indicators of gambling. Those results are still being analyzed.