New Jersey Lawmakers Advance College Player Prop Betting Ban

A bill that would ban college player props at sportsbooks in New Jersey is gaining traction in the legislature.


The New Jersey Assembly's tourism, gaming, and arts committee voted Thursday to release A4905, advancing the legislation and moving it closer to passage in Trenton.


A4905 - and its twin in the New Jersey Senate, S3080 - would ban sportsbooks from or accepting "any wager on a player-specific proposition bet on any college sport or athletic occasion."


In other words, there would disappear college player props for Garden State punters at locally managed sportsbooks if the costs becomes law.


While New Jersey sports betting rules restrict betting on in-state college teams, they allow banking on college player props, at least in the meantime.


"As one of the very first states to legalize sports betting, I believe that it is our duty to guarantee that we set the finest example we potentially can for all others who want to follow our lead," said Democratic Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, A4905's sponsor, in a statement following the committee vote. "Even as a staunch supporter of the sports betting industry, I think it is incumbent upon us to recognize the amazing pressures that college professional athletes face between their academic and athletic responsibilities. My legislation ensures that they do not have actually those pressures compounded by problem gamblers that have concerned pester our college athletes when gamblers lose money on college gamer proposition bets."


Be 'affordable'


If New Jersey were to ban college gamer props, it would continue the recent pattern of states kiboshing those wagering markets over concerns of student-athlete harassment and abuse, among other things.


The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its president, previous Massachusetts guv Charlie Baker, have actually been lobbying states for prop restrictions with those issues in mind. The NCAA supports A4905.


"Sports betting is on the increase, and with it, so is the threat for college athletes, and there is no concern they are getting bugged by bettors," Austin Meo, the assistant director of government relations for the NCAA, informed the Assembly committee on Thursday. "That threatens the stability of the video game, and it threatens the wellness of college professional athletes all over."


Meo said that 20 states enable college player props in some kind. However, he likewise noted that at the start of 2024, there were 24 states, before Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana moved this year to limit those wagering markets.


"Taking an affordable action that half the states with sports wagering have actually required to restrict prop bets is something New Jersey can do to assist respond to this major concern," Meo stated.


Highway to 'hell'


There is no guarantee New Jersey will go through with a college gamer prop ban, although recent history suggests there is an opportunity. Nevertheless, A4905 and S3080 will deal with opposition from licensed sportsbook operators and other interested parties in the Garden State, one of the most fully grown markets for legal sports betting in the U.S.


Lobbyist Bill Pascrell, of Princeton Public Affairs Group, informed the Assembly committee on Thursday that there is "no proof or favorable info" from the worried parties that allowing prop bets makes gamers more vulnerable than permitting betting on college teams.


Pascrell stated prohibiting college player props will move that action to unlawful and offshore sportsbooks, even if that action is a fairly small percentage of all sports betting.


"The states do not have the long arm of the law to reach the black market," Pascrell said in opposing the expense. "This ensures that folks that bet this type of prop bet, and it's a little segment of the industry, around two to 4%, will simply go to the black market. And we don't see any evidence favorable that by using this bet, we're making folks more vulnerable, due to the fact that the bet will just transfer to the black market."


Pascrell said New Jersey's ban on in-state college wagering pressed banking on those schools in basketball tournaments to the black market or sportsbooks in neighboring states.


"I understand this bill has the best of intentions, but I believe sometimes the street to hell is paved by the best of objectives, and I believe we must reconsider this problem, because I'm worried about the explosion of the black market and this will assist those in the black market," Pascrell informed the committee.


College gamer prop betting is ended up in Ohio as of March 1. Matthew Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, revealed today he approved the NCAA's request to prohibit such betting. Any staying futures need to be voided by next Friday.