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Naima Stevenson Starks talks NCAA stance on sports betting

By jili tutorial · September 1, 2026

NCAA Deputy General Counsel Discusses Organization’s Stance on Sports Betting

As the United States increasingly embraces online sports betting, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is taking proactive steps to safeguard its student-athletes and the integrity of collegiate competitions. Naima Stevenson Starks, Deputy General Counsel of the NCAA, recently sat down with CalvinAyre.com’s Becky Liggiero Fontana to clarify the organization’s position on wagering involving student-athletes.

Key Concerns: Integrity and Athlete Well-Being

During the interview, Stevenson Starks outlined the NCAA’s two primary concerns regarding the expansion of legalized sports wagering in the U.S.:

“The two [concerns] are the integrity of athletic competition, and how that could potentially be impacted by a proliferation of legalized sports wagering,” Stevenson Starks explained. “And then the second is really the health and well-being of student athletes.”

NCAA Rules Still in Effect Despite Legalization

Stevenson Starks emphasized that even as sports betting becomes legal in more states, the NCAA’s own rules remain strict. She underscored the importance of keeping local student organizations informed about these regulations.

“Even though we are seeing legalization of sports wagering, it is still a violation of NCAA rules,” she said. “I do think people and member institutions really need to make sure that their student athletes are aware, so that they don’t walk themselves into any kind of issues.”

Deeper Dive in Full Interview

In the complete interview, Stevenson Starks elaborates further on the NCAA’s approach to maintaining integrity in sports and discusses additional concerns surrounding the U.S. sports betting landscape. Viewers can watch all related videos by subscribing to the CalvinAyre.com YouTube channel.

This article originally appeared on CalvinAyre.com.