US Bill Aims to Ban College Athlete Prop Bets Nationwide

A new bill in the US Congress wants to stop certain sports bets involving student-athletes. Congressman Michael Baumgartner from Washington has introduced this legislation. Its full name is the Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust (PROTECT) Student-Athletes Act. Right now, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is looking it over.

Legislation Aims to Protect College Athletes from Betting-Related Risks

The legislation called HR 1552 aims to stop betting on the personal achievements of college athletes in university sports events. It does not ban overall betting on college games, but it zeros in on bets about specific actions or accomplishments of individual players. Baumgartner, who also heads the College Sports Caucus, has presented the bill as a way to protect student-athletes from possible exploitation and improper influence.

In a recent press release, the congressman pointed out that sports betting on college campuses has grown a lot sparking worries about student athletes’ safety and integrity. He stressed that young athletes, who split their time between studies and sports need protection from gambling-related risks like harassment and manipulation. He also mentioned a troubling pattern where student athletes face pressure to play for money.

For enforcement, the bill gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the power to regulate, which means breaking the rules would count as unfair or deceptive business practices under federal law. This allows for tight control and legal action against any groups that do not follow the rules.

March Madness Fuels Debate as Lawmakers Push for Stricter Betting Rules

Baumgartner’s plan stands apart from other suggested federal gambling laws, like the SAFE Bet Act, which Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal put forward. This wider-reaching bill aims to ban all types of prop betting, not just those involving college athletes. Baumgartner’s method has a tighter focus, trying to shield student-athletes while still allowing bets on overall game results.

The proposal arrives as the debate over sports betting rules heats up. March Madness one of the year’s biggest college sports events, has just kicked off bringing this issue into focus. In addition, a new survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 55% of Americans do not want betting on college sports at all, while 58% are okay with gambling on professional sports.

Concerns about fair play in sports betting have grown due to an ongoing federal probe tied to the Jontay Porter NBA scandal, which involves several NCAA men’s basketball teams. This case has sparked more alarm about possible gambling-related wrongdoing in college sports.