July 12, 2024 3 min read

likes:

Fact-checked by Angel Hristov

Wyoming Gaming Commission Mulls Over College Prop Bet Ban

Wyoming commissioners were inconclusive and decided to see how things develop before acting

Wyoming acknowledged the importance of cracking down on gambling-motivated harassment against young athletes but might seek other solutions than banning college prop bets.

Prop betting in college sports has been one of the hot topics of US betting as experts argue that banning the vertical could solve the matter. The NCAA  has been one of the main promoters of such a measure, advising states to protect college athletes by banning prop bets.

The Wyoming Gaming Commission (WGC) decided to consider the matter but couldn’t reach a consensus on the topic. While commissioners acknowledged the potential positives of banning college player props, they also considered the fact that such a ban wouldn’t eliminate player harassment.

Additionally, the commission discussed the potential effect on the industry and the possibility of driving regular bettors to the black market. Scott Ward, a lobbyist representing the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA) made a point that offshore operators will not abide by the ban and could potentially attract those who want to make such wagers.

The WGC Is Inconclusive

When it came to banning college athlete props, the WGC considered two possible approaches, nicknamed the Ohio Solution and the Iowa Solution. The former represents a full ban on college prop bets as a whole. The other solution, on the other hand, would only prevent players from placing such wagers on in-state college athletes.

Operations manager Michael Steinberg who outlined the two solutions concluded that something must be done but expressed uncertainty whether banning props will have sufficient effect on harassment.

Steinberg added that commission staff had discussed this matter with the NCAA earlier this year. The association was unable to provide any numbers but tried to convince him that the ban in Ohio has had a positive effect on the market.

To provide a more holistic picture of the issue, Steinberg also cited an earlier meeting with University of Wyoming representatives, who noted that not all cases of harassment are betting-related.

Commissioners concluded that a ban on college athlete props might not be the best solution and would also consider a different approach, such as implementing another rule that deals with harassment. This could potentially include taking action against those who harass athletes, like Ohio and West Virginia do.

In any case, Wyoming commissioners were inconclusive and decided to see how things develop before acting.

In the meantime, Illinois, Iowa, and Rhode Island opted to ban college athlete props as requested by the NCAA. A North Carolina bill that would have done the same died in committee upon the legislative session’s end. Montana, on the other hand, declined to ban props, preferring to seek another solution.

Journalist

Although Fiona doesn't have a long-spanning background within the gambling industry, she is an incredibly skilled journalist who has built a strong interest in the constantly growing iGaming network. The team at Gambling News is glad to have her on our roster to help deliver the best stories as soon as they hit. Aside from writing, she loves to dabble in online casino games such as slots and roulette, both for her own enjoyment and also as research to better improve her understanding of the industry.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *