North Carolina Lawmakers Propose Ban on College Prop Bets

• A new bipartisan bill aims to prohibit college prop bets in the state
• The legislation also calls for in-person sportsbooks at a facility hosting a college sports event to not be open eight hours before or during event
• This is the second attempt to ban college prop bets in the state

North Carolina lawmakers are again focusing on the potential ban of all college prop bets in the state.

A bipartisan bill introduced by House Speaker Pro Tempore Mitchell S. Setzer (R-89) calls for the ban of all college player prop bets in the Tar Heel State. HB 828 also prohibits in-person sportsbooks in a facility hosting a college sports event to be open eight hours before or during the event to customers.

This is the second bill proposed to eliminate college player prop bets in North Carolina.

North Carolina Hopes to Prohibit College Prop Betting

Setzer’s bill, HB 828, calls for the prohibition of all college prop bets in the state.

The legislation calls for a ban on any “wager on an individual action, statistic, occurrence, or nonoccurrence to be determined during a sporting event and includes any such action, statistic, occurrence, or nonoccurrence that does not directly affect the final outcome of the sports event to which it relates.”

This is the second piece of introduced legislation attempting to ban collegiate prop bets since North Carolina launched sports betting in March 2024. Rep. Marcia Morey (D-30) introduced a bill in April 2024 to prohibit college player prop betting.

Setzer’s bill will prohibit betting on any college props in the state, not just college player props. It will also prohibit prop bets on amateur sports.

If approved, the bill will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

Setzer’s bill will also set limitations on when an in-person sportsbook can be open if it’s housed in a facility that hosts a collegiate sporting event. His bill prohibits such a sportsbook from being open eight hours before its facility hosts a collegiate sporting event, or during said event.

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NCAA Calls For Nationwide Ban

Last year, NCAA President Charlie Baker announced the NCAA would contact officials across the country to remove college player prop bets from all betting markets.

“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed,” Baker said.

In total, 18 states have in-place bans on college player prop betting.

In a recent development, North Carolina lawmakers have proposed a ban on college prop bets in an effort to curb potential gambling-related issues among college students. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit betting on specific occurrences within college sports games, such as the number of points scored by a particular player or the outcome of a specific play.

The rationale behind the proposed ban is to protect college athletes and students from the potential harms of gambling addiction and exploitation. Lawmakers argue that allowing prop bets on college sports could lead to increased pressure on student-athletes to perform in a certain way in order to influence the outcome of a bet. This could not only compromise the integrity of college sports but also put student-athletes at risk of being targeted by individuals looking to profit from their performance.

Additionally, proponents of the ban argue that college students are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of gambling, as they may not have the financial resources or maturity to handle the risks associated with betting. By prohibiting prop bets on college sports, lawmakers hope to prevent students from developing gambling addictions or falling into financial hardship as a result of their participation in betting activities.

Opponents of the ban, however, argue that it infringes on individuals’ rights to engage in legal gambling activities and could drive bettors to underground or unregulated betting markets where they may be more susceptible to exploitation. They also point out that college prop bets are already prevalent in other states and banning them in North Carolina could put the state at a competitive disadvantage in the gambling industry.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to ban college prop bets in North Carolina will depend on a careful consideration of the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a measure. Lawmakers will need to weigh the potential harms of allowing prop bets on college sports against the potential benefits of protecting student-athletes and students from the risks associated with gambling. Only time will tell how this proposed legislation will impact the landscape of college sports betting in North Carolina.