New Jersey seeks to prohibit proposition bets involving college events and athletes.
New Jersey Cracks Down on Proposition Bets Aimed at Student-Athletes
Keeping collegiate sports clean and safe, one bill at a time - that's the goal!
Last week, the New Jersey Senate's Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee moved forward with Senate Bill 3080. On Thursday, June 19, the committee unanimously approved (5-0) the bill's advancement, a significant step towards banning proposition bets on college players in the state.
Time for New Jersey to Lead the Way
Senate Bill 3080 is now scheduled for a full Senate hearing before it can be considered by the House of Representatives. The bill intends to block proposition bets on college players, thus diminishing the online harassment and intimidation that athletes have been experiencing.
Outrageous cyber bullies and social media trolls have relentlessly targeted athletes, sending violent threats and even death threats. Sen. Kristen Corrado argues that this behavior stems from gambling, particularly proposition bets, which have led to an increase in athlete harassment.
Sen. Corrado is not alone in her concerns, as the NCAA has also expressed worries about cyberbullying and abuse aimed at athletes, often by upset bettors. The NCAA is collaborating with tech companies and law enforcement to tackle this issue and ensure that athletes are protected and harassers brought to justice.
Say No to Player-Specific Prop Bets
If the bill passes, New Jersey will become the latest state to prohibit prop bets on college student-athletes. Other states, including Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana, have already enacted similar measures, ensuring that student-athletes are safeguarded from abusers.
The potential danger goes beyond college sports, as professional athletes have also been targeted by frustrated gamblers who have lost their bets. These threats not only target the athletes themselves but extend to their families as well.
While banning prop bets on college students is a positive step towards curtailing abuse, it's crucial to recognize that more actions are required to protect these vulnerable individuals.
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New Jersey's proposed ban on college player-specific proposition bets focuses on safeguarding student-athletes from cyberbullying and harassment tied to these wagers, aligning with NCAA concerns about athlete welfare in the context of growing gambling.
Senate Bill 3080, sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado, seeks to prohibit sportsbooks from offering any wager involving player-specific proposition bets on college athletes across all sports. The bill has strong bipartisan support and aims to protect athletes from the increased harassment caused by disgruntled bettors expecting specific player performances.
The NCAA has launched campaigns such as "Don’t Be A Loser" to address the rise in abuse targeted at student-athletes by frustrated bettors. Research included in this campaign shows that about 1 in 3 student-athletes in high-profile sports experience harassment, with “angry sports bettors” responsible for approximately 12% of incidents, and women athletes facing substantially more abuse than men.
The ongoing debate within the NCAA about loosening betting restrictions illustrates a nuanced approach. While the NCAA considers relaxating certain betting prohibitions for athletes in professional sports, there is a clear push to defend college players from the specific harms associated with player-specific proposition bets.
Senate Bill 3080 aims to block sports-betting on college players, addressing the increased harassment and cyberbullying that athletes have been experiencing, particularly from disgruntled gamblers with proposition bets on sports-related events.
As New Jersey considers this bill, other states, such as Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana, have already enacted similar measures to protect student-athletes from the potential dangers of player-specific proposition bets in sports.
