Senator Proposes New Jersey Prohibition on College Player Prop Bets

Feb 13, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Paul Mulcahy (4) controls the ball against Northwestern Wildcats forward Pete Nance (22) in the second half at Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC). Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY SportsSen. Kristin M. Corrado (R-40) introduced a bill to prohibit individual college player prop bets in New JerseyCorrado cites rise in harassment of athletes as need for billSeveral states recently have prohibited these betting markets after a request from NCAA President Charlie Baker

New Jersey may be one of the next states to take a stand on individual college player prop bets.

Sen. Kristin M. Corrado (R-40) introduced S3080, a bill to prohibit sports betting operators from offering “player-specific proposition bets on college sports.”

Several state have prohibited these types of bets in the last few months after a request from NCAA President Charlie Baker.

Preserving Integrity of College Sports

Corrado introduced S3080 to the Senate last week and the bill was referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.

According to the legislation, the new law would require the following:

“A sports wagering licensee shall not offer or accept any wager on a player-specific proposition bet on any collegiate sport or athletic event.”

Baker and the NCAA started their push to ban player props on individual college athletes earlier this year as a way to protect student-athletes from harassment stemming from bettors wagering on collegiate prop bets. Baker said the NCAA hopes to institute a country-wide ban on college player prop bets to “protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game.”

Corrado took to social media after introducing the bill, declaring on “X” that she hoped the bill would increase player safety and reduce harassment stemming from sports bets.

“Prop bet have led to a rise in the harassment of student-athletes and have threatened the integrity of college sports. This bill will ban player-specific prop betting in New Jersey, which will help make college athletic events safer for all participants,” she said on “X.”

Earlier this month, a New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement spokesperson said the regulatory body would consider a prohibition on individual college player prop bets if the NCAA reached out and made an official request to do so. The NCAA has yet to officially make the request, but may not have to if this Senate bill gains momentum.

Several States Have Banned These Prop Bets

Most recently, Louisiana announced it would take steps to ban prop bets on individual college athletes. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board officially signed an order into law earlier this month to prohibit college player prop bets based on an individual college athlete’s performance or statistics beginning Aug. 1 at 8 a.m.

College proposition bets based on full team statistical results will still be permitted in the state.

Ronnie S. Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, explained in notice to the media that the new order will protect the integrity of Louisiana sports betting.

“Our staff began to work on this weeks ago, well ahead of the NCAA’s call for action on college proposition bets. It is the intention of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to protect the integrity of sports betting as well as the safety and integrity of college athletes. We feel that this order accomplishes that goal,” he said.

Baker and the NCAA started their push to ban player props on individual college athletes earlier this year as a way to protect student-athletes from harassment stemming from bettors wagering on collegiate prop bets. Baker said the NCAA hopes to institute a country-wide ban on college player prop bets to “protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game.”

Louisiana, Ohio, Vermont, and Maryland have all taken steps in the last two months to limit the college player prop bets.