Bill to Ban Prop Bets on College Sports Officially Filed in North Carolina
A bill to ban college player props has officially been filed in North Carolina, America's newest legal sports betting jurisdiction, and it could come with a massive impact across our best sportsbooks.
The bill would make North Carolina sports betting the latest state to agree to ban college player prop bets, and it comes following a campaign from NCAA president Charles Baker.
Baker's campaign to ban college player props is rooted in deterring player harassment. And Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) officially filed House Bill 967 on Wednesday.
The bill, if passed, would go into effect July 1, and it would change the landscape of North Carolina sports betting apps.
Bill 967
The bill adds a subdivision to the new sports betting law, which would prohibit “a wager on an individual action, statistic, occurrence, or nonoccurrence to be determined during a sporting event.”
If passed, it would end wagering on individual stats for college and amateur athletes, including Olympians. It comes after Baker said in March that the best sports betting apps should begin removing player prop bets for college athletes.
A potential addition to the bill would ban wagering at venues where college sports are held eight hours before or during the event.
Morey, a former Olympic swimmer, opposed the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina in 2023. The Tar Heel State launched mobile wagering on March 11, 2024.
She said in late April that Morey planned to introduce the bill to remove wagers on college players' individual performances for those using North Carolina sportsbook promos through betting sites.
“We’re forgetting about the individuals who are actually playing the game and having the pressure on them. Let’s give them a break," she said. "Then to know in the back of your mind, 'Oh, well, people are going to watch every stroke, every turn, betting on every move I make,’ it takes away from the thrill of the sport, the enjoyment.”
Despite the bill, some North Carolina lawmakers have said they don't plan to make any changes to sports betting in the state.
“If we ended it tomorrow, this kind of behavior would still continue with fanatical people. Follow rules of society, you don’t threaten anybody, or you shouldn’t be," Rep. Jason Saine said. "And, that’s kind of my take on it. I don’t think we need a whole new set of rules to pursue something like that.”
Bans and potential bans across the country
If North Carolina were to ban college player props, it would be joining Ohio sports betting apps, Maryland sports betting, and Vermont sports betting. Louisiana sports betting apps are set to ban college player props on Aug. 1.
The Tar Heel State isn't the only one considering a ban either, as New Jersey sports betting apps could follow suit.
Baker released a statement in late March asking states with legal sports betting to ban college player props.
"Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed," Baker's statement said. "The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game."
