Barstool, which now enables college athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), has a roster of thousands of NCAA brand ambassadors in its database.
Dave Portnoy, the creator of BarstoolSports, wasted no time reacting to the news:
“We will recruit you if you are a Division 1 athlete and you wink at me.”
Nonetheless, certain colleges, such as the University of Illinois, are facing issues related to their sports teams’ association with Barstool.
Illinois allows student athletes to buy Barstool products, but requires that any images containing trademarked symbols be taken down from the internet.
Illinois university athletes are currently able to buy a $125 hoodie, joggers, and T-shirt from Barstool. In return, Barstool is asking students and athletes to use the hashtag #BarsToolAthlete in their social media profiles and to upload a photo of themselves wearing the gear.
On the other hand, Illinois NIL program coordinator Kamron Cox (pictured left) informed Business Insider that this component will require the university to take action.
To be honest, our student athletes do not have the authority to grant rights that they do not already have. If they upload the image, I will reach out to Barstool and ask them to remove it. You are not allowed to use this image of them as it is part of our uniform.
Cox continued:
The significance of our marks lies in the fact that we are able to exchange them with our business partners who are willing to pay a premium for them.
College athletes are prohibited from promoting Barstool Sportsbook, one of the six online sportsbooks in Illinois. This restriction is in line with the law that prohibits betting on the Illini in the state of Illinois.
Illinois in-state gambling restrictions on neighborhood schools
Illinois is among the few states that do not allow betting on in-state college teams such as Illinois, Northwestern, Loyola Chicago, and others. This means that legally wagering on these teams is prohibited.
Josh Whitman, the Director of Athletics at Illinois, is one of the most vocal supporters of that policy.
During an April House Executive Committee hearing, Whitman stated:
“Often, individuals form a significant part of their self-perception or identity from comments made about strangers on social media. This constant struggle is prevalent in modern college sports. By permitting individuals in our region to wager on our student athletes, we are essentially encouraging hostile, aggressive, and harmful interactions with them.”
Earlier this year, the House approved a bill that would allow in-state college betting on local teams, but only in person. The Senate has not yet voted on the bill, but may do so during the October veto session.
Whitman stands behind the individual’s right to freedom, as he expressed at the time of the US Supreme Court ruling.
Today marks the beginning of a new era in college sports with the introduction of name, image, and likeness legislation. This change is the most significant shift in collegiate sports since the implementation of athletic scholarships in the 1950s.
Barstool Illinois has trouble registering electronically.
Barstool in Illinois recorded a handle of $23.5 million in July, ranking fifth among the six online sportsbooks in the state.
However, the setting is crucial. Governor Barstool of Illinois launched on March 11, and JB Pritzker mentioned in-person membership in April. This gave Barstool only three days to register users accordingly.
On the flip side, BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel had approximately seven months to sign up customers online.
Barstool could potentially experience an increase in monthly sports betting handle and revenue in Illinois once mobile registration is reinstated.
However, currently, individuals who come across the term “Barstool Athlete” on a social media profile and feel motivated to download the Barstool sports betting app, will be directed to visit Hollywood Casino Aurora instead.
