NCAA President Blasts Sports Betting for Role in Player Abuse
Charlie Baker also shared concerns with the prominence of prediction markets and their impact on the integrity of March Madness.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here . With the pageantry and excitement of March Madness on the horizon, the NCAA and president Charlie Baker are expressing concerns about sports betting and its effect on the tournament.
Key Takeaways Baker says sports betting is fueling abusive behavior toward players, coaches, and officials, calling the current environment “crazy. ” The NCAA is increasing integrity measures during March Madness, including monitoring harassment and working with partners to limit abuse. Prediction markets and prop betting remain major concerns, with the NCAA pushing for stricter guardrails and potential regulatory action.
Speaking with CBS News and Nate Burleson, Baker spoke at length about sports betting, particularly with regard to efforts being made to curb foul play, as well as the increasing prominence of prediction markets. “It's thousands of really abusive messages that are being directed at young people and at coaches and officials, too ... the bottom line is this is all being driven by betting,” Baker said in the interview on Wednesday.
“We have a deal with Venmo to help us shut people off when they’re harassing some of the kids because they don’t deliver on their props. I mean, this is crazy town with respect to how this is working right now. ” The NCAA president also made abundantly clear that additional measures were being taken proactively with the spotlight of March Madness at its brightest.