A recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) analysis on gambling behavior among college student athletes unveiled interesting statistics. You can review key results of the two-decade long study here, but one of the biggest standouts had to do with the dramatic differences in gambling behavior in Division III student athletes compared to their DI and DII counterparts. Prior to referencing the data below, please note the NCAA’s policy on student athlete sports betting which apples to Division I, II, and III athletes:
“NCAA rules ban participation in sports betting activities and prohibit providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports betting activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition. In other words, if you are a student-athlete, coach or athletics staff member, regardless of sport or division, you are not allowed to bet or provide any useful information that can influence a bet in any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.” (NCAA Gambling Policy)
Simply stated, sports betting of any kind is prohibited whether you’re a DI star who has his/her sights set on a career in professional sports, or a DIII player with entirely different aspirations. Now let’s look at results of the study that pertain to today’s topic:
Percentage of Student-Athletes Who Gambled for Money in Recent Year
Percentage of Male Student-Athletes Reporting They Bet on Sports (by Division)
Which Sports DI and DIII Student-Athletes Bet On
Percentage of Student-Athletes Reporting that they Have Bet on a College Game in Their Sport (not involving their team)
In every instance, we find that Division III student athletes gamble more, and are more blatant (i.e. wagering on their own sport) in their violation of the NCAA’s gambling policy.
More research needs to be done to identify causes and comorbidities regarding why Division III athlete gambling behavior is more frequent and overt when compared to D I (and DII). That being said, it’s worth exploring what may be happening among this student-athlete population. Let’s review.
Speculative Overview of Why NCAA Division III College Athletes Appear to Violate Gambling Policy More Than DI and DII
Less to Lose if Caught Violating Gambling Policy
The most logical reason for Division III’s exaggerated gambling behavior is the fact that they have far less to lose (all else equal).
For one, DIII athletes are less likely to perceive that they will have a post-collegiate career in the big leagues (NFL, NBA/WNBA, MLB, NHL, et cetera) compared to those who play at the most elite level (DI). As a result, some may see sports betting as being worth the risk.
Of course, the likelihood of any NCAA athlete going professional is slim. While it varies by sport, the overall consensus is that only about 2% go pro. The greatest risk to DI is instead something that is very tangible – scholarships. Division 1 schools can offer partial and full athletic scholarships whereas Division 3 schools do not. So once again we find that DIII student athletes have much less to lose by violating sports betting policy.
Lastly, DI athletes qualify for NIL deals. They are able to earn income off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). While, D3 athletes are also eligible to engage in NIL activities, they are less likely to receive them because they are not participating at the same elite level and are not as publicly visible.
Assume That No One is Watching?
Given the reputation and money involved in NCAA March Madness, the College Football Playoff, and in elite Division I athletics as whole, all eyes are DI athletes. These elite athletes feel the pressure and are well aware of being under a constant microscope. DIII athletes, on the other hand, are less exposed. Consequently, they may feel as if they are not being “watched” to the same extent as those in DI programs. They may therefore be more likely to break gambling policy.
Less Education on NCAA Gambling Policy?
Every month it seems as if yet another NCAA DI athlete or team has landed in the news for some sort of betting scandal. In response, the NCAA and respective DI programs have ramped up athlete/player education regarding gambling policy to ensure that there are no misunderstandings about what is and is not permitted. There is simply too much at stake for these scandals to be allowed to persist. Do Division III schools place the same emphasis on NCAA gambling policy education? Given that DIII schools are more academic focused, it’s reasonable to speculate that less attention is given to the matter. And if this is the case, it’s worth finding out if increased gambling policy education can mitigate problematic gambling behavior among DIII college athletes.
Less Access to Mental Health Resources?
Since the map of U.S. states with legal sports betting has grown, so has investment in mental/behavioral support services for college student athletes who may struggle with problem gambling and cooccurring issues (more on the latter below). Our Colorado athlete wellbeing program is one glowing example of this investment. However, is the same level of investment going into Division III schools across the United States? And if so, are student athletes made aware of what is available to them as far as support for problem gambling, or are they only aware of generalized mental health support services? As with education on gambling policy, it’s worth finding out if increased access and awareness about support can mitigate problematic gambling behavior among DIII college athletes.
Comorbid Mental Health Concerns Associated with DIII Student Workload?
Research consistently shows that elite Division I athletes feel more pressure to succeed in their sport when compared to Division III athletes. As a result, there is a stigma that DIII athletes do not experience the same pressures as DI (or DII) athletes and therefore experience fewer issues with their mental or behavioral health. In turn, they may have a tendency to minimize the importance of their own feelings, emotions, and struggles (including gambling compulsions) and subsequently forgo getting help.
Further, it’s critical to note that Division III student athletes face a different kind of pressure. Given that Division III schools place equal or greater emphasis on academic performance (vs sport) their student athletes face threats to their mental health from both sides of the collegiate experience. One study on Division III college basketball found the following:
“The major conclusions of this study are that 46% of participants had depression that was normal, 62% had anxiety that was either moderate or extremely severe, and 62% had stress that was either normal or mild. Interestingly, schoolwork was reported to affect mental health in 92% of participants, however, 77% reported that personal pressure as the top contributor to their stress, anxiety, and/or depression. It is evident from this study that stress, anxiety, and depression are common in Division III collegiate basketball players. Notably, this population of athletes need support on how to manage personal pressure and schoolwork to prevent mental health struggles. Future studies are needed to provide more insight into these determinants of mental health in Division III athletics.” (Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in Division III Athletes)
So what do the above findings have to do with gambling behavior? While more research needs to be done among DIII athletes to draw more definitive conclusions, the fact that anxiety, stress, and depression in athletes are known to cooccur with problematic gambling behavior in athletes is something that cannot be ignored.
View more on the Trends in NCAA Student-Athlete Gambling and Sports Betting Behaviors report for further insight. Meanwhile, athletes and educational institutions who are concerned about gambling behavior are encouraged to reach out to Kindbridge Behavioral Health right away. Our Mental Health Services for Athletes platform includes counseling services for problematic gambling behavior. Call or email to ask about our student-athlete support programs, or tap the banner below (athletes) to receive an assessment and book a counseling session.
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