In the heart of New Jersey, an initiative born from concern for the welfare of college athletes has been set into motion by Senator Kristin Corrado. A bill aimed to usher an end to the practice of placing bets on the individual performance of athletes – commonly known as player-specific prop bets – has been introduced in the state’s legislative assembly. Corrado’s legislation seeks to nip in the bud a growing menace that has been heightening threats and harassment against student-athletes.
Presently, in New Jersey, it’s already forbidden to place prop bets on athletes from universities based within the state. The proposed bill, however, aims significantly broader. Corrado wants to extend the ban on these types of bets, irrespective of whether or not the college athlete in the spotlight hails from the Garden State.
“Regrettably, proposition bets have been the catalyst for an uptick in the harassment of our student-athletes, thereby posing a threat to the purity of college sports,” shared Corrado as she presented her bill. The senator further expressed her deep concern about the debilitating effects this issue has had on individuals who fell short of the goal posts set by overzealous bettors, consequently becoming victims of online harassment.
Senate Bill 3080, sponsored by Corrado, aspires to mandate that holders of sports wagering licenses absolutely shun offering player-specific prop bets on college sports. Expected to undergo an initial review, the bill is yet to be assigned to a Senate committee.
A spotlight on the dire situation has already been expressed through the voices of undermined student-athletes themselves. For instance, Zach Edey, the center player for Purdue, disclosed that betting-related threats have become an unwelcome part of his life. Despite Purdue’s tumble at the national championship, Edey maintains a nonchalant front, stating he doesn’t allow such threats to go under his skin.
The bitter taste issues like this leave in the mouths of players is evident in the words of the renowned University of North Carolina star, Armando Bacot, who described the swelling surge of sports betting as “a little out of hand.”
While these wagers may merely make up 1.5% of the state’s sports betting action, as reported by Ohio Casino Control Commission’s Executive Director Matthew Schuler, 1.5 percent of $119.8 billion is no pocket change. If other states’ prop bet activities echo Ohio’s, then the grand tally stands at an alarming $1.8 billion.
NCAA officials have already issued an appeal to lawmakers in states where sports betting is legalized to exterminate college player props, expressing a unanimous concern over the rising cases of harassment. Their calls have not fallen on deaf ears as regulators in states like Ohio, Maryland, and Louisiana have revamped their sports betting rules to exclude prop bets.
However, in a country boasting a total of $119.8 billion in legal sports bets last year, the task of eradicating this issue is far from insignificant, underscoring the importance of Corrado’s proposed bill and the landmark change it could bring about in the world of sports betting, and more importantly, the safety and integrity of athletes.
