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If you support any of the sports teams at the top five public universities in Michigan, you likely know about the recent shifts in college athletics regarding athletes’ ability to profit from their public image while still being able to participate in their sports. Since there is currently no specific law in Michigan that directly addresses name, image, and likeness rights, the colleges and universities in the state have taken it upon themselves to establish their own rules for Michigan athletes’ NIL regulations.
There are several reasons for the ban on athletes partnering with gambling companies.
The dawn of Michigan athletes and NIL rules
Until December 31, 2022, when the state law regarding college athletes’ publicity rights and NCAA eligibility becomes effective, Michigan colleges and universities are currently lacking any specific guidance from athletic conferences or the NCAA. Consequently, they are solely responsible for making decisions in this matter.
The majority of entities have already taken action, with Michigan, Michigan State, and Central Michigan all announcing their new policies on July 1.
Multiple inquiries on this subject were left unanswered by Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. However, Central Michigan, Michigan, and Michigan State have clearly stated their policies regarding gambling endorsements.
What Michigan NIL rules say about gambling partnerships
While Central Michigan’s policy does not explicitly mention all gambling companies, it specifically addresses sportsbooks in one section.
Even though student-athletes will have opportunities through NIL, there are certain limitations imposed on their NIL activities. Student-athletes are prohibited from:
- Participate in activities that involve an entity offering a product or service that goes against NCAA regulations, such as engaging in sports betting or using prohibited substances.
The language used by Michigan State is quite similar.
“Engaging in any name, image, or likeness activities related to sports wagering or any substances or drugs classified as banned by the NCAA is strictly forbidden for student-athletes.”
The language used in Michigan’s rules is slightly more extensive.
Student-athletes, by electing to pursue both academics and athletics, have willingly taken on the responsibility of being ambassadors for the University. Consequently, they are not permitted to participate in any name, image, and likeness endeavors that could potentially tarnish the institution’s reputation. This prohibition encompasses activities like endorsing or publicizing products or services such as gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco, or banned substances, among others.
It is currently challenging to predict the outcome if an athlete from any of these three institutions decides to accept compensation from a gambling company for utilizing their NIL.
What if an athlete decides to test these limits?
In order to adhere to the essence of these regulations, athletic departments would need to declare an athlete of this nature as ineligible. This could lead to subsequent repercussions. Nevertheless, there is scope for speculation on this matter.
In an improbable yet conceivable hypothetical situation, an important query arises: Would fair treatment be extended to all athletes? Let’s consider a scenario where a renowned quarterback from Michigan visits a casino, but the athlete isn’t compensated by the casino for their appearance.
Additionally, let’s consider the scenario where the Wolverines have an upcoming significant competition like the Big Ten Conference championship game. Is it plausible that they would choose to sideline the crucial player responsible for driving their offense, jeopardizing their chances of clinching the conference title and potentially securing a spot in the College Football Playoff?
It is possible that they may choose to postpone disciplining the player until after the season. Alternatively, the athletic department might attempt to frame the situation by claiming that the athlete did not directly endorse gambling since the casino did not make any payment. They could argue that the athlete simply signed autographs at a location coincidentally being a casino.
The hope of athletic departments is to avoid making such decisions, as they encompass more than just eligibility concerns, with additional rationales behind these policies.
Why gambling is off-limits for athletes
To begin with, the NCAA does have comprehensive regulations in place concerning athletes’ involvement in gambling activities. It would not create a favorable impression if these very same athletes were seen endorsing gambling companies.
Furthermore, studies indicate that college students are particularly susceptible to developing compulsive gambling problems. Moreover, athletes who endorse gambling at these educational institutions may be perceived negatively.
Sportsbooks typically employ former athletes as their spokespersons to mitigate concerns about the integrity of games, as athletes colluding with these establishments could potentially cast doubt on the fairness of the outcomes.
Michigan universities have implemented this policy as a precautionary measure, with the hope that it will never need to be enforced. Nevertheless, its implementation ensures clarity regarding acceptable behavior during these times of recent changes.
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