【a wooden stake】Federal college prop betting ban tabled in Congress

HR 1552, also called the Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust (PROTECT) Student Athletes Act, was filed last month by Republican congressman Michael Baumgartner.

The proposed law marks the second major responsible gambling legislation filed in Congress this session, after US Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal reintroduced their SAFE Bet Act earlier in the month.

Rep. Baumgartner said: “Sports gambling on college campuses has surged in recent years. Student athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education, and it’s essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field.

“This bill doesn’t ban betting on college sports games, but it targets wagers on student athletes’ individual performances.

“We are witnessing a troubling rise in harassment of college athletes on campuses, as well as an alarming increase in cases of student athletes being coerced into throwing games for financial gain.”

Prop bets are defined in the bill as wagers on specific actions or achievements by a student athlete that may or may not directly influence the outcome of an event.

The legislation stipulates any breach of the prohibition will be treated as a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act concerning unfair or deceptive acts or practices.

NCAA president calls for college prop bets ban

The news follows on from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) president Charlie Baker arguing betting on college sports, including prop bets, should be banned in December last year.

Baker told the Senate judiciary committee: “We believe that when bettors can’t gamble on college athletes’ individual performances, they’re far less likely to attempt to scrutinise, coerce or harass student-athletes.”

“They get demands for money from unhappy bettors for trivial things that don’t impact the result on the field.

“Many have received death threats from bettors, and they also receive other, in-person threats and accusations directed at them while they’re leaving or coming onto the field of play.”