Prop bets, short for proposition bets, are bets unrelated to the final score of a game or match. A college prop bet may be on a player, like a wide receiver, to score a touchdown. NCAA president Charlie Baker believes that prop bets threaten the integrity of college sports and can result in harassment of college athletes. The NCAA has been working with several states and is responding by banning college prop bets.
Are college prop bets allowed in Pennsylvania?
Sports betting in Pennsylvania can take place online, mobile, and in retail sportsbooks. Sports bettors can bet now at an online sportsbook by downloading a sports betting app and playing on a mobile device. There are a total of 10 online sportsbooks regulated by the Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board (PGCB).
Pennsylvania has many competitive college teams. Sports bettors can place bets on individual games, conference winners, and the College Football Playoff. However, betting on player props is not allowed in Pennsylvania.
Sports bettors aren’t allowed to place sports prop bets on players, such as an Over/Under on how many yards an NFL quarterback will throw for in a game. They can’t bet ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on whether a soccer player will receive a red or yellow card in a game. Pennsylvania is one of 13 US states to ban college player props.
Why aren’t prop bets allowed?
Companies that monitor sports betting warn that prop betting on unpaid athletes increases the potential risks of corruption. The referees and players have some degree of control over the betting outcomes. This opens the door to many potential problems relating to integrity.
They can lead to player harassment
Disgruntled gamblers who lose their wagers on prop bets can take this out on college athletes. The NCAA recently released a 30-second video targeting sore losers who make players bear the brunt when they lose their prop bets. They will post brutal messages on social media about the athletes.
Even young TikTok influencers and rappers on social media can affect how others view college athletes today. The abuse related to player props compounds the mental health issues that elite athletes often already experience to a greater degree than the general population.
They can compromise player integrity
Like anyone else, college athletes may be vulnerable. They may make unethical decisions, especially if they are experiencing financial stress. If they have an opportunity to change their performance for a large payout, they may take it. A recent player prop scandal resulted in a lifetime ban from the NBA for Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors.
They can result in predatory practices against players
Members of the underworld, such as criminal bookies, may prey on players who find themselves in gambling debt. They may believe in luck to the extent that they take chances and lose money. These criminal bookies may offer to cover the losses of a college athlete who helps them to cover the spread on the next game they play.
It can expose athletes to the underbelly of sports betting. Stories about the coercion of college athletes do not only belong in works of fiction, although they may seem hard to believe.
Is banning prop bets at the college level enough?
Many young college athletes go on to the big leagues. This exposes them once again to the risks associated with player prop betting. Some people are calling for a ban on player props altogether. They believe they should be banned in amateur, collegiate, and professional sports.
Critics of a total ban
Scott Ward of the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) believes that a total ban on player props could backfire, as the unregulated market would continue to offer them. By keeping player props in the legal market, regulators and operators could monitor for abusive behavior and initiate interventions where necessary. The question is whether they are ready to invest in AI monitoring systems so they can pick up issues and deal with them.