Overview
With less than 24 hours to go before a 5 p.m. ET Friday deadline to rescind a rule that would otherwise allow college athletes to gamble on professional sports, the NCAA has a wide gap to close, a source tells CNN Sports. As of Thursday night, 188 Division I schools had submitted the paperwork to request the rescission. The target number to stop the rule switch is 241, or two-thirds of the 361 Division I member institutions. If that threshold isn’t met, college athletes, coaches and staff will be permitted to gamble on professional sports by Saturday morning.
Context
The proposed change arrives as sports gambling faces intensified scrutiny. In the last month, federal authorities arrested two Major League Baseball players (Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz) for alleged involvement in gambling schemes. Also cited were Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA journeyman Damon Jones, all accused of participating in separate gambling schemes. Additionally, six college basketball players have been deemed permanently ineligible for participating in game‑fixing activities, and Congress has urged sports leaders to safeguard integrity.
All statements are reported as provided by the source and reflect ongoing coverage.
Notes on Authority
Information reflects a CNN summary based on sources close to the situation as of the cited deadline.
Author’s Summary
The NCAA faces a tight deadline to rescind a rule allowing athletes to gamble on pro sports; as of late Thursday, fewer than the needed two-thirds of Division I schools had submitted rescission paperwork, while gambling-related investigations add pressure on sports integrity.