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A staff member of the University of Georgia (UGA) football team was recently found to have violated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules when they placed bets on professional sports, an activity strictly prohibited for those involved in collegiate athletics in the state. 

 

While the staffer remains unnamed, it has been confirmed that they are no longer part of the football program. The violation took place in August 2020 but was only uncovered and reviewed in 2023 based on statements made by the deputy athletic director at UGA, Will Lawler.

 

According to Lawler, the uncovered violations are categorized as NCAA Level II, which are isolated or limited in nature. 

 

UGA’s violation summary stated: “If the staff member is hired by another SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) institution in the future the staff member is required to complete a sports gambling education program/session, and the hiring institution is required to submit a written plan to the Conference office for monitoring the staff member to assure he does not commit similar violations in the future.” 

 

This is not the first instance of such sports betting violations in the UGA athletics program. In 2022, a university athlete was reported for placing a bet on an app for fantasy sports, which is also classified as a Level III violation. 

 

These violations contradict the strict NCAA regulations that state that betting on any NCAA-sponsored sports is banned, whether these sports events are professional or international. 

 

The Georgia athletics program reported a total of 23 Level III violations for the 2023-2024 academic year. These infractions include violations in the women’s golf program, and exceeding daily time limits for women’s basketball, softball, and swimming. 

 

When asked about the NCAA betting violations in 2023, UGA’s football coach Kirby Smart stated, “We’ve had issues with that in the past too. It’s more prevalent. I can’t turn the TV on now without seeing something. There’s a lot of debate out there about what’s right and what’s wrong, but the NCAA rule is pretty harsh for gambling relative to some other things. It’s pretty obvious why. They don’t want that infiltrating teams.”

 

All the Level III infringements of the past year, including the betting instances, highlight the efforts of collegiate sports to uphold the integrity of sports programs and participating athletes. It also increases awareness around the broader issue of sports betting and its complications at the college level. 

 

In contrast to these violations, it is important to note that legal gambling does exist in various forms. For instance, while sports betting and casinos (both online and land-based) remain off-limits in Georgia, residents can access a variety of online slots for real money on offshore casino sites. These platforms offer regulated means for individuals to engage in gambling activities that are illegal in the state. 

 

As the local landscape of sports betting and gambling continues to evolve in Georgia and the US, it is critical for institutions and individuals to stay informed and adhere to the regulations set by governing bodies like the NCAA. This will ensure fairness and integrity, factors that are a key part of the spirit of collegiate athletics.