NCAA Embraces Supreme Court Ruling on Gambling With Its Own Change in Policy

In the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision Monday that erased a decades old prohibition on sports wagering in all but a handful of states, the NCAA has changed its policy on where college championships can be held.

Prior to the decision, the NCAA had not permitted championship events to take place in states that allowed sports betting, with Nevada among the most affected.  This is good news for the Silver State, which stood to lose out the most from Monday's ruling due to the sudden potential for competition.

“Our highest priorities in any conversation about sports wagering are maintaining the integrity of competition and student-athlete well-being,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA president. “Sports wagering can adversely impact student-athletes and undermine the games they play. We are committed to ensuring that laws and regulations promote a safe and fair environment for the nearly half a million students who play college athletics. While we recognize the critical role of state governments, strong federal standards are necessary to safeguard the integrity of college sports and the athletes who play these games at all levels.”