St. Joseph’s University, a private Jesuit university in Philadelphia with a campus in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, has issued a policy forbidding its students, faculty, staff, contractors and board of trustee members from placing “an otherwise legal sports wager on any team, contest or event, or individual affiliated with the Saint Joseph’s University Department of Athletics.”
The interim sports-betting policy, set out in the school’s updated student handbook, represents the first attempt by a college to forbid legal sports bets involving its teams. Although the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has long been opposed to any wagering on college athletics, no school has taken a step like this.
The school’s policy acknowledges that it’s more of a moral statement than a pragmatic, enforceable program.
“The purpose of this policy is to establish Saint Joseph’s University policy regarding sports wagering that reflects the values of the university and adheres to applicable National Collegiate Athletic Association bylaws and rules, commonwealth of Pennsylvania law, and federal law,” the policy states.
“Saint Joseph’s University is an institution built on community, in which we encourage all members to support one other in academic and spiritual growth. Allowing Saint Joseph’s University students, faculty, staff, contractors, and members of the Board of Trustees to gamble on the performance of university student-athletes or staff members runs contrary to the sense of community that is so critical to the University.
“As such, students, faculty, staff, contractors, and members of the Board of Trustees are not permitted to place an otherwise legal sports wager on any team, contest or event, or individual affiliated with the Saint Joseph’s University Department of Athletics.”
The policy states that anyone found in violation of the rule will be “subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the applicable University procedures that implements sanctions for students, faculty, and staff,” and that independent contractors found in violation will be “deemed to have committee material breach” of their contract, with any subsequent contract terminated.
