This weekend, the men’s NCAA Tournament reaches its climax with the Final Four taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This event is occurring just blocks away from where the NCAA is currently engaged in a legal battle with DraftKings over the unauthorized use of trademarked phrases like March Madness and Sweet Sixteen.
For years, the NCAA Tournament has attracted significant betting activity, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA nearly eight years ago. Bettors now wager billions on various aspects of the tournament, including game outcomes and player performances, through platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Last year, Genius Sports made headlines by securing a deal with the NCAA, allowing sportsbooks access to official NCAA data, provided they adhere to specific guidelines. However, as of now, no sportsbook, including DraftKings, has accepted these NCAA-imposed restrictions, as noted by Chris Termini, the NCAA’s vice president for championship business affairs, in a recent court declaration.
DraftKings and FanDuel have also declined to participate in a similar agreement that Genius has with the NFL, resulting in the league being without a sportsbook sponsor for the first time since 2021.
The NCAA’s position on gambling differs from that of major professional leagues, as it does not collaborate with sportsbooks. In its lawsuit against DraftKings, the NCAA emphasizes that its agreement with Genius Sports is designed to safeguard the integrity of its games.
To utilize NCAA data and trademarks, sportsbooks must comply with a rigorous set of standards, which includes banning high-risk prop bets on college sports and committing to cooperate with NCAA investigations by sharing geolocation and betting information. They are also required to support the NCAA’s responsible gambling initiatives.
“The message is clear: sportsbooks must accept NCAA integrity standards or lose access to official NCAA data,” Termini stated in his court remarks. “It’s unfortunate that sportsbooks, including DraftKings, are not willing to comply with these regulations.”
Most states do not mandate licensed sports betting operators to use official league data, and some states have taken steps to outright ban college athlete prop bets. Recently, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation prohibiting licensed operators from offering prop bets on college players.
In response to a recent article discussing the online harassment faced by student-athletes, NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed his outrage on social media. He referenced a survey indicating that 52% of athletes believe sports betting contributes to public ridicule.
Baker condemned the abuse directed at young athletes, calling it “vicious and disgusting,” and criticized the gaming industry and social media platforms for their lack of action against such behavior.