SEC to require sports-betting education for all student-athletes

The Southeastern Conference will require all student-athletes to watch an educational video about sports betting before their first regular-season game in the 2026-27 athletic year, Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Wednesday at the conference’s spring meetings in Florida.

Conference officials said the video is intended to educate and safeguard student-athletes amid the growing prevalence of sports gambling nationwide and is an extension of the SEC’s monitoring efforts with partner IC360, formerly US Integrity, begun in 2018.

“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,” Sankey said. He added that the rise in sports gambling and recent incidents in college and professional athletics make the initiative a high priority for the conference.

SEC officials said the mandatory video will be incorporated into each institution’s student-athlete education requirements and completed as part of annual campus compliance programming. Officials said it will offer guidance on recognizing risks, understanding SEC and NCAA rules, and reporting concerns. The rule will apply to athletes at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, officials said.

SEC officials cited a report saying 58% of people ages 18 to 22 have placed at least one wager, with the rate rising to 67% among students living on college campuses. They also said 31% of adults under 30 reported placing a sports bet in the past year and that about $12 billion was wagered on games involving at least one SEC team through legal channels during the 2025-26 academic year. The SEC noted high-profile cases, including reports that Cincinnati-turned Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby reportedly placed more than $10,000 in wagers and has been denied collegiate eligibility, as part of the context for the policy.

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