New Jersey to Ban Prop Bets on College Athletes
New Jersey lawmakers are moving to ban proposition bets (“prop bets”) on individual player performances in college sports. These bets, which focus on specific stats like a quarterback’s touchdown passes or a basketball player’s rebounds, are causing concern for the added pressure and harassment student-athletes face.
Why New Jersey Wants to Ban Prop Bets on College Sports
The main reason for the proposed ban is to protect student-athletes from extra scrutiny and harassment. College athletes are more accessible than pros. They live in dorms, eat in cafeteria’s, take classes with their peers and are more likely to be approached by disgruntled bettors.
State Senator Kristin Corrado pointed out the not so good side of legalized sports betting. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Examples:
- Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne getting messages from people angry at him for losing a bet after a bad game.
- North Carolina basketball player Armando Bacot getting over 100 social media messages from bettors upset about his stats.
The NCAA, which supports a national ban on prop bets for college sports, says one in three athletes in sports that are heavily bet on have been harassed by gamblers.
Arguments For and Against
Proponents say banning prop bets will reduce the pressure on young athletes and harassment. They feel this is necessary to keep college sports clean and protect student-athletes from extra stress.
New Jersey already bans betting on games involving in-state teams or events held in the state. Senator Corrado and others see the prop bet ban as an extension of those protections to prevent bettors from interacting with athletes.
Not everyone is on board with the bill. Bill Pascrell III, a sports betting lobbyist, says prop bets on individual college athletes is only 2-4% of the legal sports betting market. He claims banning these bets will drive gamblers to the unregulated black market where they have no legal protections.
Pascrell also points to the existing ban on betting on in-state teams like Seton Hall and St. Peter’s as proof that restrictions don’t eliminate demand. Instead, bettors go to illegal websites or travel to states where they can bet on in-state teams, creating a gap in consumer protections.
The bill has passed the Assembly committee. It now needs to pass both chambers of the state legislature and be signed by Governor Phil Murphy to become law. If it does, New Jersey will join the national conversation on the ethics and impact of betting on college sports.
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