The rise of sports betting has created new challenges for the NCAA. In a September 2023 NCAA survey, 27% of autonomy schools reported dealing with a sports betting issue within the past year, which is a significant increase from a similar survey in 2019. The NCAA has taken several steps to protect student-athletes and the integrity of its competitions. This includes implementing an e-learning module, educating student-athletes about gambling harms and the risks of sports betting. The NCAA also monitors betting activity through a global integrity program that partners with state and federal law enforcement, gaming operators, campus administrators, specialized vendors and other key stakeholders.

Official betting is the term used for bets placed on specific outcomes in a game, such as which team will score first or how many touchdowns Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will throw. Bettors can also place a parlay, which is multiple bets linked together to form one payout. There are also a number of prop bets, or proposition bets, on aspects of the game that may affect its outcome but not the overall result. These can include whether a team is at home or away, weather conditions and a player’s injury status.

The debate over official data has emerged as a major issue in the push for legal sports betting in the US. The leagues want a role as primary stakeholders in the market and they are intent on profiting from it, ideally via a direct cut of all US wagers. The American Gaming Association supports private commercial agreements for official data but opposes legislative mandates.