Obviously, it feels like everywhere you look, it's a FanDuel or DraftKings ad, as the sportsbooks have made a major marketing campaign to target every facet of sports. Well, to combat this, the SEC is taking a big step today by making every student-athlete watch a video about sports gambling and why it’s important not to get involved in it while playing. The conference said, "the new custom-designed, mandatory video supplements expand efforts that began with the Conference’s association with IC360 for monitoring of sports gambling activities in 2018, when it operated as US Integrity." It will also cover:
- Implemented IC360’s ProhiBet product in 2023 for real-time monitoring of prohibited sports betting.
- Introduced student-athlete availability reporting in football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball in the Fall of 2024 to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information.
- Distributed educational posters for viewing in team locker rooms at all SEC institutions beginning in January 2026.
- Established a sports gambling tip line in January 2026 that allows student-athletes and other SEC stakeholders to anonymously report suspicious activities related to sports gambling.
In addition, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said:
"The Southeastern Conference remains committed to supporting its member institutions and student-athletes through proactive education, monitoring, and resources that promote integrity and protect the student-athlete experience. The rise in sports gambling, including some recent well-documented incidents among college and professional athletics, as well as developments around prediction markets, makes this a high-priority initiative for the Southeastern Conference."Greg Sankey
This is big for Tennessee and the SEC
Remember this offseason when many people thought former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby could end up at Tennessee because of his comments at Big 12 media days last year, where he said he loved Neyland Stadium and had family ties to Knoxville? Well, Tennessee may have dodged a bullet by not landing him because of the recent gambling allegations that have reportedly made him ineligible. Had Tennessee gotten him, there is a chance the Vols would have lost their top two transfers in Chaz Coleman and Brendan Sorsby if Coleman decided not to end up coming to Knoxville.
The SEC is putting procedures in place now to help prevent future situations like this from happening, which is a very positive step. The conference said that more than half of 18-to-22-year-olds have engaged in sports betting at least once, and on college campuses, that number is close to 70%. That is a massive number and obviously falls right into the age range of college athletes. Now, every player will have to complete training designed to help avoid another situation like the one involving Brendan Sorsby.
However, it is somewhat ironic that the SEC is partnered with ESPN, which actively promotes sports betting across its platforms. There is nothing inherently wrong with casual sports gambling for fans, but it becomes a major issue when athletes gamble in ways that could impact the outcome of games. It is best for players to stay away from it entirely, though it is understandable why some people get involved when gambling is constantly promoted, and they may not be fully educated on the risks.
This new program is important because it will help educate athletes about the risks and consequences tied to sports gambling. It’s not just a college issue either. Former Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams was suspended by the NFL after placing a bet at the Detroit Lions' practice facility. It’s a problem that stretches across all levels of sports.
Hopefully, other conferences adopt similar measures to better educate young athletes on the risks and consequences tied to sports gambling.
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