NCAA Reveals New Tech to Monitor Officials for Betting to Uphold Rules in March Madness Tournaments

The NCAA is implementing new procedures to monitor any prohibited betting by officials working the basketball, baseball and softball tournaments.

The organization will utilize ProhiBet to flag any wagers that run afoul of its rules.

"Implementing ProhiBet is a major step in increasing integrity protections for college sports," NCAA managing director of enforcement Mark Hicks said, per ESPN's David Purdum. "This platform adds another layer to the NCAA's robust integrity monitoring program as we work to keep competition integrity and student-athlete well-being paramount in a rapidly evolving sports betting environment."

Like the athletes who participate, referees are banned from betting on sports. As part of the vetting process for selection, the NCAA will use ProhiBet to see whether any candidates have wagered money through licensed sportsbooks.

Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), which created the ProhiBet technology, has partnered with other sports organizations including the PGA Tour, UFC, Big Ten, ACC and others.

This past October, IC360 alerted sportsbooks to irregular betting involving at least 11 men's basketball games. The Justice Department subsequently issued charges against 26 individuals in connection to bribery and point-shaving allegations.

The men's NCAA tournament tips off March 17 with the First Four and runs through April 6. The women's tourney gets underway on March 18 and wraps up April 5.