NCAA Survey of Senior Compliance Administrators on Sports Wagering Issues

The survey targeted the senior compliance administrator from each Division I, II and III member school to better understand how the NCAA can support schools in educating student-athletes and staff members about sports wagering. More than 500 completed the survey administered in late July and early August.

Quantitative Data Highlights

• 27% of autonomy schools had dealt with a sports wagering problem among their athletes or staff within the past year.
• 25% become aware of any student-athletes on their campus who were harassed (online or in person) by someone with gambling interests.
• 95% have some form of sports wagering education occurring for athletes, coaches and athletics administrators.
• 85% of D1, 50% of D2 and 32% of D3 schools provide education more than once/year to student-athletes.
• 75% of D1, 40% of D2 and 25% of D3 schools provide education more than once/year to their coaches and administrators.

Qualitative Data Highlights

• More schools across all three NCAA divisions are also discussing well-being issues, including gambling addiction, than reported doing so in a similar NCAA survey conducted in 2019.
• Many schools, especially those in DI, send student-athletes and athletics department personnel reminder texts or emails prior to big sporting events (e.g., March Madness, Super Bowl, football bowl games).
• Regardless, sports wagering falls at the bottom of the importance list.
  • Academic eligibility, drug testing, sexual violence and mental health are the priorities.

Identified Risk Factors

• Access and availability with technology.

Identified Protective Factors

• Education for student athletes.
• Education for compliance administrators.

Identified Challenges

• Institutions do not have the resources or the funding to win this battle.
• The sheer access of wagering activities available with technology is IMPOSSIBLE to monitor or track.
• Student-athletes don’t see the rules and education as relevant to them.