Kentucky Could Become the Next State to Ban College Athlete Prop Bets

A new bill in Kentucky seeks to introduce stricter regulations on sports betting, including a ban on prop bets on college sports. The NCAA has long promoted a nationwide ban on such wagers, alleging that they lead to increased student-athlete harassment and pressure.

Kentucky’s New Bill Seeks to Prohibit Prop Bets on Student Athletes

Kentucky’s House Bill 904 was submitted on March 4, introducing new rules on prop bets. The measure would prohibit such bets on college sports amid concerns about the negative pressure they expose student athletes to.

Prop bets, for context, are a form of betting that does not relate to the broader outcome of the game, but to the individual performance of various players. As a result, players who lose their wagers would sometimes vent about it on social media, with some going a bit too far and harassing athletes. While regulators and operators alike have led countless campaigns against such harassment, it continues to take place, exposing athletes to unnecessary stress.

In the context of college sports, younger players would sometimes receive threats and slurs from older sports bettors who are unhappy about their losses. Because of this, the NCAA has long promoted a ban on college athlete prop bets – a recommendation that several states have already taken to heart.

HB 904 Proposes Sweeping Changes

In addition to prohibiting college athlete prop bets, HB 904 also includes a variety of other changes to how gaming is regulated, including raising the betting age to 21. This would align Kentucky with the majority of other states where players under the age of 21 cannot bet legally. Kentucky is currently one of the few states where the minimum age for participating in wagering is 18.

Additional reforms outlined in the bill include identity verification requirements and mandatory geolocation systems that would prevent potential fraud or betting by users not located in Kentucky. At the same time, HB 904 introduces harsher penalties for unlicensed operators and parties that allow illegal gaming to take place on their property.

The bill also proposes a stricter definition of racetrack extensions, as well as allowing governments to apply for racetrack extension licenses.