NCAA President calls for a ban on prop bets in collegiate athletics

There have already been hundreds of millions of dollars wagered on March Madness, which began at the same time as sports betting in North Carolina began. However, the NCAA asserts that the spread of sports betting is endangering both student players’ safety and the fairness of the sport.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement on X that “this week we will be contacting officials around the country in states that still allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland, and many other states and prohibit college prop bets from all betting markets.” The problems that have arisen across the nation in recent days demonstrate the need for additional action. “The NCAA is drawing the line at sports betting to safeguard student-athletes and to defend the integrity of the game.”

Baker is urging states all throughout the nation to outlaw college prop bets.

There are no initiatives in progress in North Carolina to outlaw prop betting, according to Democratic state representative Zack Hawkins, who was a major backer of the legislation that authorized sports wagering.

“I haven’t received any communication and I should research the events in other states that are the reason for this call,” Hawkins stated.

On March 11, North Carolina legalized sports betting, coinciding with the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament and March Madness. A report from the North Carolina Lottery Commission states that in the first week of sports betting, wagerers placed over $198 million and won over $141 million.

According to Kevin Hennessy, vice president of communications at Fanatics Sportsbook, football and basketball are the most popular college sports wagers. He noted that another popular sport in the midst of the tournament is women’s basketball.

Any kind of gamble on aspects of a game or event that might not have anything to do with the result is called a proposition bet, or prop bet. Most major sportsbooks offer prop bets, which have grown in popularity recently due in part to their ability to be coupled into parlays.

Almost anything can be the subject of a prop bet, including the number of sacks a football team will receive, the duration of the national anthem, and player performance.

The last group of prop betting is what worries Baker.

Prop bets continue to jeopardize the fairness of competition and cause harassment of student-athletes, according to Baker, who noted that problems with sports betting are spreading throughout the nation.

Although it can increase fan engagement, sports betting can also be detrimental to athletes.

Carter Hicks, UNC Baseball’s director of player and program development, stated, “I think that’s a terrific thing any time you can do anything to increase awareness, improve buy in.” “Clearly, there is a boundary that needs to be respected regarding what crosses it and what doesn’t.”

Hicks says that since sports betting was legalized in the state, he and other coaches have spent a lot of time educating and supporting their players.