Montana's Familiar Face Battles for College Gambling Regulations
Legislation proposed to eliminate college proposition wagers on a nationwide scale
Gambling enthusiasts might be familiar with the name Congressman Michael Baumgartner, as he's back in the spotlight again, advocating for stricter regulations on college-level betting. This time, he's spearheading the PROTECT Act - a bill designed to prohibit prop bets on college athletes on a federal level.
The NCAA has joined in on the concerns, echoing the alarm over proposition bets. With the start of March Madness today, this timely legislation, officially known as the Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes ACT, or the PROTECT Act, couldn't be more relevant.
College prop bets have recently come under fire due to increasing incidents of harassment and coercion of student athletes. Baumgartner explores these issues in his statement:
"Student athletes are not pawns in a betting game. Their entire focus should be on their sport and education. This bill targets wagers on student athletes' individual performances to prevent this harassment and protect their integrity."
Baumgartner also co-sponsors another important proposal focused on responsible sports betting regulation at a federal level, known as the SAFE Bet Act. However, winning support for both these bills, especially in the current political climate, may prove challenging.
Despite these hurdles, the bid for change has gained momentum. With the recent launch of Robinhood's standalone prediction market, interest in college betting is set to soar. The American Gaming Association estimates that a whopping $3.1 billion will be wagered legally on this year's event alone.
It's essential for lawmakers like Baumgartner to address these issues head-on, safeguarding the athletes' lives and ensuring the sports' integrity.
Background:
The PROTECT Act emerging in the limelight seems to be HR 1552, also known as the PROTECT for Student Athletes Act. According to available information:
- Sponsorship: The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Washington), intends to establish a nationwide defense against prop betting on college athletes to address harassment risks and integrity concerns.
- Current Status: While the bill has been introduced, there's been no update on its progress through committees or possible floor votes. Some states, such as North Carolina with House Bill 828, are pursuing similar objectives at the state level[3][4].
For real-time updates on the bill's status, monitoring Congress.gov would provide the latest news beyond the provided search results' scope. Recent state actions, including Ohio's restrictions and North Carolina's renewed push, are in line with the PROTECT Act's broader objectives[3][4].
- Representative Michael Baumgartner is advocating for the PROTECT Act, a bill aimed at prohibiting prop bets on college athletes on a federal level.
- Baumgartner co-sponsors the SAFE Bet Act, another proposal focused on responsible sports betting regulation at a federal level.
- The NCAA shares concerns over proposition bets and has deemed the PROTECT Act highly relevant in light of the start of March Madness.
- With the launch of Robinhood's standalone prediction market and an estimated $3.1 billion in legal wagers on this year's event alone, it's crucial for lawmakers like Baumgartner to address college betting issues head-on.
