US bill to ban college prop bets referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce
Congressman Michael Baumgartner’s HR 1552 would introduce a ban at the federal level.
US.- Congressman Michael Baumgartner‘s proposal to ban prop bets on the performance of student athletes has been referred to the US Congress’s Committee on Energy and Commerce. HR 1552, dubbed the Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust (PROTECT) Student Athletes Act, would introduce a federal ban on wagers on specific actions or achievements by a student athlete in intercollegiate sporting events.
The bill stipulates that any violation would be treated as a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act concerning unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
Baumgartner, who is chair of the College Sports Caucus, said in a press release: “Sports gambling on college campuses has surged in recent years. Student athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education, and it’s essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field. This bill doesn’t ban betting on college sports games, but it targets wagers on student athletes’ individual performances.”
He added: “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.”
