The Sports Betting Madness on College Campuses episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 45 MIN

The Sports Betting Madness on College Campuses

from Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed · host Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn

It’s March Madness, a prime time for college sports – and for sports betting. Some two-thirds of college students now bet on sports, and the meteoric rise in popularity brings a mix of tough challenges for campus leaders. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with two officials from the NCAA, Clint Hangebrauck and Mark Hicks, to understand why a rise in student gambling could become “the next big public health crisis” for campuses. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group. Related Links “U.S. sports betting: Where all 50 states stand on online sports betting sites,” in CBS Sports. “Federal prosecutors charge 26 men with alleged conspiracy to manipulate college basketball games,” in The Athletic.  Suspensions, arrests and lifetime bans: A timeline of sports betting scandals since the repeal of PASPA,” in ESPN. “NCAA won't allow pro sports betting by college athletes and staff amid gambling scandals,” in PBS NewsHour.“ ‘Is This Insider Information?’ The Prediction Market Bets Driving a Campus Frenzy,” in The Wall Street Journal. Chapters 0:00 - Sports Betting Is Suddenly Everywhere 2:10 - The Turning Point That Drove a Gambling Boom 3:11 - Scandals Threaten the Integrity of Games 3:53 - Why ‘Prop Bets’ Pose Threats for Athletes 4:44 - The NCAA’s Role and Introducing Our Guests 5:45 - Laying Out the Landscape of College Betting 8:37 - How Widespread Are Problems Related to Sports Betting? 12:07 - Why College Presidents Should Be Concerned About Gambling 15:56 - Which Sports or Schools Face the Biggest Impact of Sports Betting? 20:04 - Should Student Athletes Be Allowed to Bet on Pro Sports? 22:51 - What Should Colleges Do About Sports Betting? 25:15 - What Is the NCAA Doing to Protect Student Athletes? 29:40 - How NCAA Collaborates With Betting Companies 33:52 - What’s Next for Sports Betting? 36:42 - A Wake-Up Call to the Issue of Sports Betting 40:53 - Sports Betting Touches Many Parts of Campus Connect with Michael Horn: Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You Sign Up for the Next Newsletter Website X (Twitter) Threads LinkedIn Connect with Future U: Twitter YouTube Threads Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag! Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

It’s March Madness, a prime time for college sports – and for sports betting. Some two-thirds of college students now bet on sports, and the meteoric rise in popularity brings a mix of tough challenges for campus leaders. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with two officials from the NCAA, Clint Hangebrauck and Mark Hicks, to understand why a rise in student gambling could become “the next big public health crisis” for campuses. This episode is supported exclusively by Ascendium Education Group.

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The Sports Betting Madness on College Campuses

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This episode was published on March 24, 2026.

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It’s March Madness, a prime time for college sports – and for sports betting. Some two-thirds of college students now bet on sports, and the meteoric rise in popularity brings a mix of tough challenges for campus leaders. On this episode, Jeff and...

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