NCAA amending penalties for violations of gambling policy

Gambling in sports by athletes has become a pretty big deal. The NFL has been in the process of cracking down on gambling within its ranks and the NCAA has dealt with a few cases as well -- including a baseball coach who was fired for a direct link to a suspicious bet.

With the legality of betting creating grey area for athletes in 38 states to date, it's being reported by ESPN that the NCAA is updating the punishment it will dole out for violations. It's not all ham fisted, either. In fact, in some cases, leniency may be increased. Other cases, though, are rather extreme.

On the extreme end, student-athletes who engage in activities that influence the outcome of games that they're playing in or provide information to "individuals involved in betting" can face a permanent loss of collegiate eligibility. Specifically, this includes student-athletes betting on other sports their school offers.

If a student-athlete is found to have bet on a sport that doesn't involve their school, they can still face up to a half-season suspension. 

The NCAA will also take into account the cumulative dollar value of wagers. For instances, athletes who bet between $201 and $500 could lose 10 percent of their season eligibility. Betting over $800 could result in a loss of 30 percent of a season. Both instances would come with mandatory rules and prevention education.

"These new guidelines modernize penalties for college athletes at a time when sports wagering has been legalized in dozens of states and is easily accessible nationwide with online betting platforms," Alex Ricker-Gilbert, chair of the Division I Legislative Committee, said, per ESPN.

"While sports wagering by college athletes is still a concern -- particularly as we remain committed to preserving the integrity of competition in college sports -- consideration of mitigating factors is appropriate as staff prescribe penalties for young people who have made mistakes in this space."