NCAA president asks for college prop bets ban in Ohio

By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the NCAA want to stop gamblers from placing bets on individual performances in college games, hoping it will stop online threats and harassment.

In a letter to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, NCAA President Charlie Baker asked for collegiate prop bets to be removed from the legal bets that can be placed in the state. That move triggered a public comment period for operators to comment on rule changes before a change can occur.

“The data is clear that student-athletes are getting harassed by bettors,” Baker said. “Sports betting without appropriate controls poses real risks to the well-being of student-athletes and to the integrity of collegiate competition – risks which are heightened by individual prop bets. On behalf of the thousands of student-athletes, administrators and game officials in Ohio, I thank Gov. DeWine for acting quickly to protect student-athletes and game integrity while responsibly regulating the growing sports betting industry in Ohio.”

The commission has the authority to establish a lifetime ban for anyone who threatens violence or harm against someone involved in a sporting event when the threat is related to gambling on that event.

In January 2023, Dayton men’s basketball coach Anthony Grant said his players received threats after a loss.

“Our men's basketball coach Anthony Grant and I have long advocated for the elimination of proposition bets on individual college athlete performances,” University of Dayton Vice President and Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said. “We support any action that aims to protect students and their families from inexcusable abuse and threats.”

DeWine said the move to ban college prop bets comes after months of discussion and several other reports of social media threats made against college athletes.

“One year into sports gambling in Ohio, we have seen a marketplace develop where a number of bad actors have engaged in unacceptable behavior by making threats against student-athletes in Ohio and across the country,” DeWine said. “By amending rules to focus bets on the team and away from individual athletes, I believe we can improve the marketplace in Ohio and better protect student-athletes from unnecessary and potentially harmful threats.”