How The NCAA Plans To Address Student Athlete Harassment

During the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) meeting, the NCAA addressed issues surrounding student-athletes. Among those addressed were the illegal betting market, the integrity of sports, and the dangers athletes face from angry bettors. With sports betting becoming more prevalent, student-athletes have been targets of harassment over player prop bets. To combat this growing issue, the NCAA and the NCLGS are partnering.

NCAA Partners With NCLGS To Aid Student Athlete Issues

Clint Hangebrauck serves as the NCAA managing director of enterprise risk management. When speaking on the panel at the NCLGS meeting, Hangebrauck confirmed the two entities were forming a special committee. This committee will draft a legislative framework that begins by focusing on the unregulated market.

Hangebrauck describes the issues as a “clear and present danger to the safety and well-being of our student-athletes.” So far, Ohio, New Mexico, and West Virginia are markets that have passed laws directly addressing threatening fans. Those found to be harassing or threatening athletes face prohibition from sports betting.

The NCAA has also been campaigning to remove college player prop betting from betting sites. Some states have banned college player props following the NCAA’s request. The new committee is also working to reduce player props, according to Hangebrauck.

Tres York, the American Gaming Association (AGA) senior director of government affairs, says the AGA also focuses on college athlete harassment.

“When you have a legal, regulated market, the data and transparency and visibility it gives allows you to look for not only nefarious betting patterns, but to corroborate harassment,” said York.

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Student-Athletes’ Communication Matters

Another committee focus will be educating students on how to report harassment. Students will have a better understanding of how to report issues of harassment over prop bets. Former FBI agent and sports consultant Todd Sandstedt has a history of working with institutions to handle harassment.

“We discussed the need to at least provide the reporting, so the regulator and law enforcement can take action,” said Sandstedt on the panel.

Sandstedt said the committee would work to educate student-athletes. If athletes know the reporting process, the authorities can get involved and handle harassment issues as they arise.