NCAA President Issues Plea for More Sports Betting Regulations

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
12/18/2024
Responsible Gambling
Photo by United States Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo by United States Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Takeaways

  • NCAA president Charlie Baker requested lawmakers support increased regulations
  • Harassment of college athletes continues to rise in legal sports betting markets
  • New Jersey is considering a bill to ban college prop betting

The NCAA is once again asking for help with sports betting.

President Charlie Baker attended a Senate hearing on Tuesday. The head of the NCAA pleaded for lawmakers to begin reigning in the country’s sports betting market. He shared concerns over the impact on the mental health of athletes and bettors, which is damaging the country’s youth.

While Baker did not make specific regulations in mind, he asked that the group support one of the three sports betting bills being considered.

Baker Cites Mental Health in Plea

Baker’s biggest concern is the harassment of college athletes. Reports show a significant rise in the issue as more Americans begin betting on sports. The main problem has been with player prop bets, which involve the individual performance of an NCAA athlete.

The increase in harassment is hurting the mental health of college athletes. Focusing on school and athletics is stressful enough, but athletes need to worry about threats from strangers online. While most online harassment never amounts to any real danger, the threat of an armed and angry bettor is a fear shared by many. 

SAFE Bet Act Gets Boost

One piece of legislation the NCAA president highlighted was the SAFE Bet Act. The proposal would overhaul how sports betting is regulated in the US, handing almost all control to the federal government. This would allow them to set universal regulations instead of having each market set its own.

When proposed, the bill received little support, but it was meant to be a starting point for discussing additional regulations. Baker’s public support could soon change that, giving the bill a better chance to pass than initially projected.

More States Consider Limiting College Betting

While Baker hopes for federal intervention, several states have begun complying with the request to remove college player prop betting. Several have already switched, and New Jersey is now considering joining them. The Garden State is home to one of the country’s most prominent sports betting markets.

Some markets are considering similar legislation to help curb the issue of college athlete harassment. However, others are opting to continue forward with the controversial bet type. This has frustrated Baker and the NCAA, leading to their appearance in Washington, D.C. 

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!