That prohibition has come up recently with investigations of possible violations at Alabama, Iowa and Iowa State, and it has offered an opportunity for others to emphasize the regulations.

The University of Wisconsin athletic department has at least four times per year that it communicates with players and staff members about gambling rules, according to a spokesperson. One is at season-opening team meetings and the other three are around some of the biggest gambling events of the year: the start of the NFL season when fantasy football leagues begin; the Super Bowl; and the NCAA basketball tournaments.

The men’s basketball transfer portal window closes this week, sort of

There haven’t been any allegations of impermissible gambling by UW athletes brought to the attention of the compliance staff, the spokesperson said.

NCAA rules prohibit athletes and coaches from gambling on sports that the organization sponsors. It defines wagering as giving up an item of value — cash, a shirt and dinner are listed as examples — for the chance to gain another item of value, so it’s not limited to traditional gambling through sportsbooks. Fantasy leagues that have an entry fee and prizes also qualify for the banned list.

Players also aren’t supposed to share information on team disciplinary actions, strategy, injuries or team morale — items that the NCAA says is sought by gamblers.

Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon last week amid reports of suspicious betting in games involving his team. ESPN reported that a person was in communication with Bohannon while making bets in Cincinnati.

College athletes and staff members in Iowa are being investigated for suspected gambling violations. Iowa announced Monday that it received information about 26 current athletes from five sports and one athletics employee who are accused of participating in sports wagering. Iowa State said 15 players in three sports are suspected of gambling.

Why Wisconsin is planning to add a heated field at Camp Randall Stadium

Iowa is one of 33 states where sports betting is legal, up from one (Nevada) before the May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that opened the gambling landscape. Alabama doesn’t have legal sports wagering, but the allegations involving Crimson Tide games show the potential for issues even in states that haven’t welcomed sportsbooks.

Wisconsin doesn’t have statewide sports betting, but Oneida Casino in Green Bay and its satellite locations and Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee have sportsbooks under agreements with the state. Neither book takes bets on Wisconsin collegiate events.