Bill Filed in North Carolina to Ban College Prop Bets

North Carolina Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban College Prop Bets

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 15 May 2024

Lisa Spencer Senior Editor

As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.

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Momentum Building for College Prop Ban

Morey’s legislation follows a recent push by NCAA President Charlie Baker to ban college player prop bets, which he argues have fueled a surge in threats and abuse directed at athletes, coaches, and officials. In March, University of North Carolina basketball star Armando Bacot spoke out about the issue during the NCAA Tournament, calling the volume of angry messages he received from disgruntled bettors “definitely a little out of hand.”

Several states have already taken steps to address these concerns. Ohio, Maryland, and Louisiana all banned college player props this year, while Vermont removed betting on individual collegiate awards like the Heisman Trophy from its pending sports betting legislation. West Virginia also recently passed a law specifically targeting abusive gamblers.

Bacot’s comments and those of other high-profile players and coaches have increased the awareness of the issue – and have prompted lawmakers to look at banning propositions.

Banning College Sports Prop Bets Won’t Be Easy

Despite many people agreeing that prop bets on college sports should be banned, the legislative changes face an uncertain path forward in the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly. The bill lacks the support of Rep. Jason Saine (R), a key founder of the state’s sports betting law, who has downplayed the need for additional player protections. He said:

If we ended it tomorrow, this kind of behavior would continue with fanatical people. I really think this is a solution in search of a problem.

Industry insiders also believe the legislation has little chance of passing unless Saine backs it. It’s also worth noting that as a Democrat in the minority party, Morey also opposed the initial sports betting bill last year and introduced several unsuccessful amendments to restrict the scope of the market. This included banning promotional deductions and limiting residents from being able to bet in-person only.

Potential Economic Impact of Props Ban

According to analysis from JMP Securities, wagers on college props make up roughly 1.8% of total US sports betting revenue. If a blanket ban was to be introduced, it could cost operators up to $200 million in annual revenue – a significant amount of money, even for the US’ largest betting companies.

For legal analyst John Holden and other critics of a props ban, improved education for bettors and increased funding for problem gambling resources offer a better solution than restricting certain bet types. It would also be a significant dent in the US’ recently opened sports betting industry, and it’s something that most industry shareholders are keen to avoid, if possible.