With March Madness fast approaching, fans across the country are following NCAA men's basketball a little bit more closely as they prepare to fill out their "brackets" and begin to enter into various tournament "pools." In fact, the NCAA men's basketball tournament has become so big the FBI expects illegal gambling could reach upwards of $2.5 billion dollars. As a result, it is important for both prospective and current NCAA student-athletes to be educated regarding NCAA Bylaw 10.3 (Sports Wagering Activities).
 
NCAA Bylaw 10.3, as applied to student-athletes, forbids knowing participation in sports wagering activities or providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any types of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competitions. A prospective or enrolled student-athlete who is found in violation of Bylaw 10.3 would be ineligible from further intercollegiate athletics competition, subject to an appeal to the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. If a student-athlete engaged in activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest or activities that will affect the gambling line or gambles on the institution he or she attends, that student-athlete would lose all remaining eligibility in all sports. If a student-athlete participates in another sports wagering activity, the student will be ineligible for a minimum period of one year. If the student-athlete later engages in another sports wagering activity, the student-athlete will be permanently ineligible.
 
To avoid finding yourself subject to Bylaw 10.3 sanctions, here are examples of impermissible sports wagering activities compiled from recent NCAA secondary infractions cases: 
  1. Men's golf student-athlete wagering small amounts of money on golf practice rounds with an assistant coach (Secondary Case 43135).
  2. Participation in a fantasy sports league with an entry fee that awarded cash prizes and plaques for top finishers (Secondary Case 37634).
  3. Men's baseball student-athlete wagering small amounts of money on various professional football games with non-student-athlete friend (Secondary Case 35844).
  4. Twenty-eight baseball student-athletes wagering money on the results of an intrasquad baseball competition (Secondary Case 35943).
  5. Assistant men's swimming coach and men's swimming student-athlete place small wager on the ability of the student-athlete to touch the ceiling of the pool from one bounce of the diving board (Secondary Case 46300).
  6. Head women's golf coach wagered with a rival institution's coach the outcome of the institution's football game where the loser would have to wear the shirt of the winner's institution (Secondary Case 45184).
  7. Assistant athletic director wagered $1 to enter an NCAA March Madness pool where the payout for the winner was $50. Even though the winnings were donated to charity it was a violation (Secondary Case 43433).
In addition, all prospective and current collegiate student-athletes should review the NCAA's website regarding sports wagering, Don't Bet On It.