Bill to ban college prop bets introduced in Congress
Introduced on 25 February, the bill – ‘‘Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes Act,” or the PROTECT Act – is sponsored by first-term congressman Michael Baumgartner of Washington. He doubles as the chair of the college sports caucus.
“Sports gambling on college campuses has surged in recent years,” Baumgartner said in a press release. “Student athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education and it’s essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field.
“This bill doesn’t ban betting on college sports games, but it targets wagers on student athletes’ individual performances. We are witnessing a troubling rise in harassment of college athletes on campuses, as well as an alarming increase in cases of student athletes being coerced into throwing games for financial gain.”
The SAFE Bet Act – which is sponsored by New York representative Paul Tonko and Connecticut senator Richard Blumenthal, both Democrats – would seek to ban all prop betting, period (among other measures). Baumgartner, a Republican, is limiting his bill’s scope strictly to the college game.
The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, treating violations as unfair business practices. The legislation aims to shield college athletes from harassment and coercion while preserving the integrity of collegiate sports. It takes a more focused approach than the broader SAFE Bet Act.
Under the microscope
The timing of the bill coincides with a lot of talk, discussion and hand-wringing revolving around college athletics and gambling.
For starters, with March Madness lifting off Tuesday, Robinhood – in partnership with Kalshi – is offering a standalone exchange for the NCAA tournament. It will allow people in all 50 states access to the prediction markets.
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