New York state, the largest sports betting market in the U.S. by handle, prohibits college player prop bets, and did so even before the NCAA requested U.S. jurisdictions ban them. The state has no plans to start offering them, said New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer.
“We continue to believe the prohibition of college proposition betting on student-athletes is appropriate,” O’Dwyer wrote to the NCAA. “New York State appreciates your efforts to help implement this important protective measure nationwide.”
He sent a thank you letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker praising his efforts to “raise the visibility” of the potential problems with harassment and threats against students by angry bettors.
Baker and the NCAA have lobbied lawmakers and regulators to eliminate college player props, according to Covers.
“With the commencement of legal sports wagering in our state, the New York State Gaming Commission made a policy determination to prohibit individual athletic-based proposition betting within any collegiate event, as we shared the same desire to insulate student-athletes from potential harassment regarding their performance,” O’Dwyer wrote.
New York Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. did propose a bill in March to allow bets on season-long prop bets, although it did not specify college players.
To date, 20 states offer prop bets for college players in some way. They include Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The New Jersey Legislature has authored a bill to change course and bar college player props.
