Virtual Sports Betting
The NCAA on fantasy sports is certainly an interesting topic. Like the National Football League, the NCAA has adamantly expressed their opposition to sports gambling and daily fantasy sports specifically. This has been their stance all along but it seems the NCAA may have an issue because of these views.
The NCAA has set regulations in place that attempt to prohibit its athletes from partaking in any gambling activity, with it mainly focusing on fantasy sports betting. It is so set in enforcing these rules that it has essentially blackballed the state of New Jersey by taking away its ability to host NCAA championship events.
NCAA vs. New Jersey
They did this because of New Jersey’s fight to legalize sports and fantasy sports gambling in the state. New Jersey is fighting against big professional sports leagues and the NCAA and the case is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The Washington Post received a comment from an anonymous NCAA spokesperson for which they explained that the organization doesn’t allow NCAA events to be held in states that have legalized sports gambling of any kind. While New Jersey doesn’t have legal sports betting yet, just the threat of them legalizing it has turned the NCAA against them.
New Jersey used to be home to several NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament games but the NCAA has taken away those privileges.
NCAA Fantasy Sports Problem
The NCAA has really backed itself into a corner because of these views and the weird thing is, is that their bylaws actually consider fantasy sports to be legalized sports gambling. Here is an excerpt of a specific section that might leave you questioning their stance:
Sports wagering includes placing, accepting or soliciting a wager (on a staff member’s or student athlete's own behalf or on the behalf of others) of any type with any individual or organization on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest. Examples of sports wagering include, but are not limited to, the use of a bookmaker or parlay card; Internet sports wagering; auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests; and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize.
The wording there clearly indicates daily fantasy sports. In fact, the NCAA even got DraftKings and FanDuel to cease all activity in regards to college sports on their sites. The confusing thing here is that the NCAA has shown no interest in penalizing states that already have legalized fantasy sports opportunities yet continues to keep its sights set on New Jersey and prevent their attempt at its legalization.
There is no clear reason as to why this is the case besides the fact that the NCAA can’t afford to blackball more than 20% of the states.
Fantasy Sports vs. Sports Betting in the NCAA
The logical thing to do for the NCAA to do is to separate its views on fantasy sports from sports betting. That being said, there’s no reason to believe the NCAA is interested in giving up on that aspect of their fight against New Jersey. They have been contradicting themselves (like the NFL) throughout this whole process, which is an indicator of underlying beliefs that they just don’t want to express. BestUSASportsbooks.com thinks it’s safe to assume that they don’t want to be the bad guy forever and will stop being so harsh against fantasy sports.