In a bid to safeguard college athletes and address concerns regarding harassment they face, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) implemented a ban on prop bets for college competitions, effective March 1, 2024.
“Maryland’s sportsbook operators were directed to stop taking college player prop bets as of March 1, 2024. The decision brings Maryland in line with other states that have disallowed these wagers to protect college athletes against potential harassment. The intent is to focus college sports wagers on the teams rather than on the individual athletes,” an MLGCA spokesperson said.
However, a spokesperson for the Maryland Lottery noted that all college player prop bets placed by customers on or before Feb. 29, 2024, will be respected and upheld. Operators have been directed to cease offering these markets on their platforms as well.
Meanwhile, collegiate awards such as the Heisman Trophy will remain permissible, but it’s important to note that these bets do not hinge solely on the actions or decisions of the college player. Rather, they are influenced by a variety of factors beyond the player’s control.
Ohio Implements Similar Ban
This news is coming shortly after the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) discontinued college player prop bets in response to a ban request from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) citing instances of harassment against college athletes.
The OCCC also expressed concerns regarding the likelihood of insider information being sought after to manipulate the betting markets. They pointed out that player prop bets could potentially tempt student-athletes to bet on themselves in order to exceed the expectations outlined in a prop bet related to their individual performance. Other factors listed in the request also included concerns about mental health.
MD Sports Betting Operators to Lose Out on a Tad Bit of Revenue
One might argue that this is rather unfortunate for the finances of sports betting operators, given that this news is emerging just before March Madness and the peak of college basketball season.
Based on the monthly revenue reports released by the state agency, it has been observed that there was a total handle of $124.5 million on college basketball bets from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Operators were able to generate $7.5 million in sports betting revenue during this period. Hence, this basketball handle constitutes 7.5% of the total $1.66 billion worth of wagers accepted across all sports during this time frame.
As the dynamic realm of sports betting undergoes constant transformation, the recent choices made by Ohio and Maryland to prohibit college football prop bets could serve as a catalyst for similar measures in other states. For instance, West Virginia has recently introduced legislation designed to prohibit sports bettors from engaging in harassment directed toward athletes, coaches, and officials.
The majority of states in the US prohibit the placing of college player proposition bets. Out of all the states, only six permit such bets, with the condition that they don’t involve teams from within the state. Hence, Louisiana, Michigan, Wyoming, and Kansas, along with Washington, DC, are the only areas where college player prop bets are permitted.
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