A new bill introduced in Congress aims to ban proposition betting on college athletes nationwide, targeting wagers on individual player performances while still allowing betting on game outcomes.
Congressman Michael Baumgartner of Washington, who chairs the College Sports Caucus, introduced H.R. 1552, titled the "Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes Act" (PROTECT Act) on February 25.
The legislation would prohibit prop bets related to the performance of student-athletes during intercollegiate sporting events, with enforcement handled by the Federal Trade Commission. Violations would be treated as unfair business practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
"Student athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education, and it's essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field," Baumgartner said in a statement. "This bill doesn't ban betting on college sports games, but it targets wagers on student athletes' individual performances."
The bill's introduction comes amid increasing concerns about the impact of gambling on college athletics:
An NCAA and Signify study last fall found thousands of "angry sports bettors" abusing student-athletes on social media
NCAA President Charlie Baker has repeatedly called for states to ban college prop bets
A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed 55% of Americans believe betting on college sports should not be allowed at all
"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," Baumgartner stated.
Unlike the recently reintroduced SAFE Bet Act, which proposes broader limitations on sports betting including a blanket ban on all prop betting, the PROTECT Act focuses specifically on college athletics.
Baumgartner, a Republican, is taking a more targeted approach than the SAFE Bet Act, which is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
The bill's consideration comes as March Madness begins, one of the busiest betting periods of the year. The American Gaming Association estimates that $3.1 billion will be wagered legally on this year's tournament.
Adding to the complexity, prediction markets like Robinhood and Kalshi have launched NCAA tournament event contracts available in all 50 states, effectively allowing nationwide betting on college basketball through a regulatory framework separate from traditional sports betting.
The legislation also arrives against the backdrop of a federal gambling investigation stemming from the Jontay Porter NBA scandal that reportedly involves several NCAA basketball teams.
While some states like Louisiana, Vermont, Ohio, and Maryland have already implemented bans on college prop bets, others including New York, Nebraska, and Connecticut have introduced legislation to expand college betting options.
The PROTECT Act seeks to establish a uniform national standard by federally prohibiting these types of wagers regardless of state regulations.
The bill has been referred to the Congressional House Committee on Energy and Commerce but has not yet been read in committee.