NCAA president Charlie Baker wants a ban on prop bets in college sports, he said in a statement released Wednesday.
“The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game – issues across the country these last several days show there is more work to be done,” Baker said.
Prop bets allow fans to bet on how many points or rebounds a basketball player might have, or yards or touchdowns a football player might have, instead of or in conjunction with a game’s outcome or spread.
Fans can bet on the outcomes of games but in many of the 38 states where sports betting is legal, prop bets are not allowed in college sports.
Baker wants that reach extended to all states.
“This week we will be contacting officials across the country in states that allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and many others and remove college prop bets from all betting markets,” Baker said.
Some players have been subject to individualized harassment if their play resulted in a prop bet going against bettors, regardless of the outcome of the game. Baker has previously explored legislation that would create a “prohibited bettors list” of people who were known to harass players and coaches.
Baker, who played basketball at…
