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.