North Carolina Bill Targets College & Olympic Prop Bets

A shocking rise in athlete harassment has pushed North Carolina lawmakers to propose banning prop bets on colleges. House Bill 828 targets wagers that spur vicious online backlash against student-athletes. The measure seeks a safer sports environment. You want a betting market that drives revenue without endangering amateur athletes. This bill promises a critical safeguard. Read on to discover how this groundbreaking proposal could reshape sports betting and shield young athletes from threats.

North Carolina’s Bold Move: Lawmakers Seek to End College Prop Bets to Protect Student-Athletes

3 Key Points

1. House Bill 828 stops wagers on individual performances in college and Olympic sports.
2. Lawmakers cite rising incidents of angry bettors lashing out at student-athletes who cost them money.
3. North Carolina joins a national trend, aligning with states limiting props to protect amateurs.

A bipartisan group of North Carolina legislators has filed House Bill 828 to prohibit prop bets on college and Olympic sports. This move responds to mounting anxiety over gambler harassment toward student-athletes.

Reps. Pricey Harrison, Marcia Morey, Neal Jackson, and Mitchell Setzer introduced the bill on 8 April. It revives a similar effort from last year that aimed to remove college prop bets but failed. If approved, this legislation would significantly alter North Carolina’s sports betting rules.

Prop bets focus on in-game statistics like who scores or how many points an athlete collects. These bets draw fans seeking personalized wagers, but they also create intense scrutiny for athletes. When bettors lose, some lash out at players on social media.

North Carolina launched online sports betting on 11 March of last year. The state quickly became a hotbed of activity, with over $7.2bn wagered since opening the market. Yet, while tax revenues soared above $135m, some lawmakers worry about the risks in college athletics. They believe stopping individual wagers on college and Olympic athletes is crucial for safeguarding their well-being.

Rep. Morey, a former US Olympic swimmer and ex-NCAA enforcement official, stands at the forefront of this effort. She collaborates with Rep. Harrison, a known critic of sports gambling expansion. Together, they highlight the troubling number of students targeted by online threats. They argue that removing prop bets is a direct way to reduce those incidents.

This proposed ban would extend to both digital sportsbooks and any future physical betting venues in North Carolina. As of now, the state lacks traditional retail sportsbooks. However, local news suggests a facility will eventually open at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, which hosts NC State men’s basketball games.

North Carolina’s push aligns with broader NCAA efforts. The NCAA has repeatedly spoken out against prop bets that single out amateur players. During March Madness, the organization released public service announcements urging bettors to avoid bullying athletes. Statistics show that one in three college athletes encounter harassment tied to gambling outcomes.

University of North Carolina star Armando Bacot acknowledged receiving hateful messages from bettors who lost money. Research suggests women’s basketball players face three times as much harassment as male athletes. These alarming trends have fueled policymakers like Rep. Morey to propose changes that shield collegiate participants from betting-linked aggression.

Besides North Carolina, other states like New Jersey have tried banning college props. In total, 17 states and Washington, D.C. now impose some limits on these types of wagers. Their aim is to strike a balance between generating revenue and respecting the integrity of amateur sports.

NCAA President Charlie Baker has emphasized that restricting prop bets remains essential. He wants more robust monitoring tools and improved cooperation with law enforcement. The NCAA’s watchful eye extends to college championships, where advanced technology flags malicious behavior online.

If House Bill 828 becomes law, North Carolina would align with the nationwide trend. Lawmakers hope it will reduce betting-fueled hostility toward student-athletes. While they acknowledge sports wagering as a legitimate market, they believe certain lines should not be crossed. Cutting out college and Olympic prop bets is their biggest step yet.

House Bill 828 marks a determined push to protect student-athletes from harassment triggered by losing wagers. By barring prop bets on college and Olympic sports, North Carolina lawmakers seek a healthier balance between betting excitement and athlete welfare. If enacted, this bill sets a precedent, following the growing trend of restricting amateur prop bets across the United States.