Official betting is a burgeoning industry that can create new opportunities for fraud and manipulation. It has already led to a number of violations for NCAA athletes and their families, including Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts, Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. These incidents, along with a recent survey of campus administrators that found 10% reported student-athletes were targeted by people with gambling interests, have highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of NCAA rules regarding sports betting and other forms of illegal wagering.

In 2024, the NFL beefed up its in-house technology and partnered with integrity firms to create a network that monitors betting activity and identifies offenders. This includes a database of bets, where they were placed and who made them. The league also works with state regulators and betting operators to enforce its rules and identify potential integrity issues.

The NBA has not stated a public position on legal sports betting, but it does promote responsible gambling and provides free e-learning modules for players to learn about the harms of problem gambling and how to avoid it. In addition, it has partnered with DraftKings and Caesars to offer a mobile platform in Maryland, which became the first legal sports betting market when it launched on Nov. 23, 2022.

The NHL has a more hands-on approach to gambling, with all in-uniform personnel subject to a rigorous screening process that includes reviewing criminal charges or convictions involving gambling or sports wagering. This is in addition to a full background check that considers employment history, educational background and a range of factors.