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Aundre Hyatt #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights receives a pass as we look at New Jersey's plans to ban college player prop betting
Aundre Hyatt #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights receives a pass on March 13, 2024. Photo by David Berding/Getty Images via AFP.

The discussion to prohibit college prop betting has now begun in New Jersey, a major player in the growing legal sports betting market in the U.S. This could result in significant changes for the top sports betting sites in the state.

After a request from NCAA President Charlie Bake two weeks ago, several top-tier betting states have decided to stop offering college prop bets on individual performance, in response to his concerns.

Legislation introduced by Senator Kristin Corrado in the New Jersey legislature could potentially lead to the banning of college sports prop betting in the state, further expanding their successful sports betting market.

Prop betting is a type of wager made on specific aspects of a sport or athletic event that are not related to the final outcome. Several states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, continue to allow prop bets on college sports.

The issues

The debate over banning college prop betting in the American market has been sparked by concerns about harassment of college-age players and threats to game integrity.

According to Charlie Baker’s letter, there is a growing concern about the increase in sports betting issues nationwide, particularly with prop bets posing a threat to the integrity of competition and resulting in harassment of student-athletes and professional athletes. The NCAA is collaborating with states to address these concerns, with many states opting to prohibit college prop bets in response.

In the past few weeks, Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana have all announced their decision to discontinue offering the wagering market. The only state to go against this trend since Baker’s request is Montana.

Senator Kristin Corrado’s plan

One New Jersey state Senator, Senator Corrado, is in favor of the NCAA President’s proposal and has introduced a bill to ban college prop bets in the state.

She stated that proposition bets have contributed to an increase in the harassment of student-athletes and have jeopardized the integrity of college sports. She mentioned hearing about numerous cases of individuals being targeted with online harassment for failing to meet the expectations of a bettor who placed a side wager. The proposed legislation in New Jersey aims to prohibit player-specific prop betting in order to address this troubling behavior and create a safer environment for all participants in college athletic events.

The proposed Bill S-3080 aims to eliminate college prop bet opportunities in New Jersey, but residents will still have numerous options to enjoy sportsbook promos in the Garden State.

Prop betting in the news

The NCAA President isn’t the only one questioning the sustainability of prop betting in the American market. This issue also holds significant importance for our top sports betting apps and New Jersey sports betting apps, as they are invested in maintaining the integrity of games.

Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors has been making headlines due to multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months.

Recently, Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff revealed that he has been threatened by bettors. Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton expressed feeling like a mere “prop” on the court, and Rudy Golbert sparked controversy by implying that referees may be influenced by the sports betting industry, flashing a money sign on the court.

He commented on the incident, stating, “I will accept the fine, but I believe that betting is detrimental to our game. I understand that the prevalence of betting is increasing, but it should not have such a significant impact.”