Sports Wagering Restrictions

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I. PURPOSE

Villanova University maintains an athletic program that promotes the educational experience of its student-athletes and sustains a clear line of demarcation between the collegiate and professional sports models. As a member institution of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Villanova University adheres to the NCAA Bylaws which provide that student-athletes and those who provide support to the athletic program are prohibited from engaging in sports wagering.

Recently, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board issued temporary regulations by which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has authorized slot machine licensees to seek approval to conduct sports wagering. Under current Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law, sporting events that can be the subject of wagering include both professional and collegiate sports and athletic events.

This policy seeks to strike the necessary balance between the NCAA Bylaws that Villanova University and its student-athletes must follow and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s temporary regulations implementing permissible wagering activities. It is recognized that changes to this University policy may need to be made as the Gaming Control Board’s temporary regulations are further refined and formalized.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all Villanova University students, faculty and staff. This policy also applies to any and all independent contractors who provide services to the Villanova University Department of Athletics, its athletic teams and student-athletes.

III. DEFINITIONS

Under NCAA Bylaw 10.02.2, a wager is any agreement in which an individual or entity agrees to give up an item of value (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) in exchange for the possibility of gaining another item of value. (NCAA Bylaw 10.02.2)

Under Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Temporary Regulations (“Temporary Regulations”), sports wagering includes accepting wagers on sporting events or on the individual performance statistic of athletes in a sporting event or combination of sporting events by any system or method of wagering, including over the Internet through web sites and mobile applications. The term includes exchange wagering, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools and straight bets. The term does not include pari-mutuel betting on the outcome of thoroughbred or harness horse racing, legislatively authorized lottery, ilottery, bingo and small games, and slot machine gaming, table games, Keno and fantasy contests.

“Nonpublic” or “exclusive” information is interpreted to mean information that could influence the outcome of an athletic event such as player availability, health status, academic eligibility status or other factor that only those in close proximity with the student-athlete or athletic team could readily ascertain.

IV. POLICY STATEMENT

A. Restrictions Applicable to ALL Villanova University Students, Faculty, Staff and Specified Independent Contractors:
Villanova University faculty, staff and students, who are 21 years of age or older, are not permitted to wager on any athletic event (e.g., practice) or contest in which a Villanova University athletic team or student-athlete participates. Similarly, Villanova University faculty, staff and students may not knowingly disclose nonpublic information regarding its athletic teams or student-athletes for the purpose of influencing wagering activities. These restrictions also apply to any independent contractors who provide services to Villanova University student-athletes or the Department of Athletics and, in doing so, may gain access to nonpublic information. Examples include, without limitation, physical therapists, athletic trainers, health care professionals, referees, officials, sports equipment staffing, and contractors working on the construction or repair of athletic facilities such as carpenters and electrical personnel.

Sports wagering by individuals under the age of 21 is strictly prohibited under Pennsylvania law.

B. Additional Restrictions Applicable to ALL Villanova University Student-Athletes, Athletics Department Staff Members and Non-Athletics Department Staff Members who Have Responsibilities Within or Over the Athletics Department:
Under applicable NCAA Bylaws, student-athletes, members of the Villanova University Department of Athletics, and non-athletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the Department of Athletics are subject to broader restrictions and are prohibited from wagering on any athletic contests or teams, whether they are collegiate, amateur, or professional.

Student-athletes and Athletics Department staff members shall not knowingly:

  1. Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activityconcerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
  2. Engage in activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest or in an effort to affect win-loss margins (“point shaving”);
  3. Participate in any sports wagering activity, including soliciting or accepting a bet, involving Villanova University teams or contests;
  4. Participate in any sports wagering activity involving intercollegiate, amateur, or contests, pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize, or any other method employed by organized gambling.

Sports that cannot be bet on are:

  1. All sports sponsored by the NCAA (including all NCAA Tournament Pools)
  2. Intercollegiate Sports
  3. Amateur Sports
  4. Professional Sports
  5. Fantasy Sports

The consequences for violations of this policy are explained in detail in Section V. Procedure below.

V. PROCEDURE

A. Violations of Restrictions Applicable to ALL Villanova University Students,
Faculty, Staff and Specified Independent Contractors:
Any individual who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the applicable University procedures that implement sanctions for students, faculty, and staff. Independent contractors will be subject to suspension procedures through the Villanova University Procurement Department.

B. Violations of Additional Restrictions Applicable to ALL Villanova University Student-Athletes, Athletics Department Staff Members and Non-Athletics Department Staff Members who Have Responsibilities Within or Over the Athletics Department:
The sanctions for violations of NCAA Bylaw 10.3, Sports Wagering Activities, shall apply as follows:

  1. A Villanova University student-athlete who engages in activities designed to influence the outcome of any intercollegiate contest or in an effort to affect win-loss margins (i.e., “point shaving”) or who participates in any sports wagering activity involving Villanova University athletics teams shall be subject to sanctions up to and including permanent loss of all remaining regular season and postseason eligibility in all sports.
  2. A Villanova student-athlete who solicits or accepts a bet or who participates in any sports wagering activity on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest, through the Internet, a bookmaker or parlay card, auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests, and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize, or any other method employed by organized gambling, shall be subject to sanctions up to and including permanent loss of all remaining regular season and postseason eligibility in all sports.
  3. A Villanova University Athletics Department staff member, or a Non-Athletics Department staff member who has responsibilities within or over the Athletics Department, who engages in activities designed to influence the outcome of any intercollegiate contest or in an effort to affect win-loss margins (i.e., “point shaving”) or who participates in any sports wagering activity involving Villanova University athletic teams shall be subject to sanctions up to and including termination of employment.
  4. A Villanova University Athletics Department staff member, or a Non-Athletics Department staff member who has responsibilities within or over the Athletics Department who solicits or accepts a bet or who participates in any sports wagering activity, on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest through the Internet, a bookmaker or parlay card, auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests, and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize or any other method employed by organized gambling, shall be subject to sanctions up to and including termination of employment.

VI. RELATED INFORMATION/FORMS

VII. HISTORY

Effective Date: November 12, 2018

VIII. RESPONSIBLE UNIVERSITY DIVISION/ DEPARTMENT

Athletic Director
800 East Lancaster Avenue
Jake Nevin Field House
Villanova, PA 19085

IX. RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT

Assistant AD - Compliance
Athletics Compliance Office
800 East Lancaster Avenue
Jake Nevin Field House
Villanova, PA 19085

University Compliance Officer
University Compliance Office
205 Tolentine Hall
800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 519-5466