University of Missouri Explores Sports Betting Ban for Campus Community

The University of Missouri Faculty Council recently held discussions about a potential policy that would prohibit students, faculty, and staff from betting on Mizzou and other UM System sports. The proposal was introduced Thursday afternoon during a meeting at Cornell Hall.

Missouri Sports Betting Legalization and Current Restrictions

While DraftKings, and FanDuel, must receive official authorization before they can legally operate within Missouri.

According to the Missouri Gaming Commission’s website, the application process for sportsbooks is expected to open by mid-May.

Faculty Council Addresses Sports Wagering in Higher Education

Pam Bruzina, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Faculty Athletics Representative, led a presentation during the Faculty Council meeting, focusing on sports wagering in higher education and its potential impact on student-athletes, faculty, staff, and the broader university community.

The primary topic of discussion was whether the university should implement a policy that prohibits its students, staff, and faculty from betting on Mizzou athletics.

Bruzina referenced Purdue University’s current sports betting ban as a model the University of Missouri might consider adopting. Purdue’s policy states that faculty, staff, students, and independent contractors are prohibited from “placing, accepting, or soliciting a sports wager on any Purdue team, student-athlete, coach, statistical occurrence, contest, or event.”

Although sports betting is legal in Indiana, Purdue enforces this rule to ensure its university community upholds a standard of conduct that sures legal requirements. The university’s website states that this policy applies regardless of whether the bets are placed on or off campus, even in other states or countries.

A Statement of Values, Not Enforcement

Bruzina emphasized that the potential policy at Mizzou would not be about strict enforcement but rather about maintaining institutional values. “It’s really more a statement of value in cultures, than, we’re going to be out policing this,” she said during the meeting.

MU Faculty Council Chair Tom Warhover echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s consistent with some policies put in place by other universities, it’s been a point of discussion in NCAA meetings, in the faculty athletics representatives meetings.”

If the University of Missouri decides to move forward with the betting ban, the policy would be implemented at the university system level and would not require action from the state legislature. Warhover clarified that the decision would strictly pertain to internal conduct policies. “This is simply, ‘How do we conduct ourselves at the university?'” he said.

At this stage, the proposal remains in the discussion phase, with several steps required before any official implementation. “It’s just an idea at this point,” Warhover stated. “There’s nothing firm yet.”

Source:

MU discusses potential ban on sports betting, komu.com, March 18, 2025.