Ohio Takes Steps to Protect College Athletes from Harmful Bets
Date: 2024-02-05 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING
Ohio Moves to Eliminate Prop Bets on College Sports
In a significant development aimed at safeguarding collegiate athletes and the sanctity of college sports, Ohio's Governor Mike DeWine and NCAA President Charlie Baker have thrown their weight behind proposed changes to the state's sports betting regulations.
NCAA Urges Ohio to Ban Player-Specific Bets Amid Rising Social Media Threats
The NCAA has formally requested the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) to prohibit player-specific proposition bets on college athletics competitions. This move is in response to the increasing prevalence of social media threats directed at college athletes.
Governor DeWine stressed the importance of protecting student-athletes from unwarranted threats, advocating for a shift towards team-based bets rather than individual player performances. He highlighted the disturbing trend of individuals making threats against student-athletes both in Ohio and nationwide.
Echoing these concerns, NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the risks associated with individual prop bets, noting that they make student-athletes more vulnerable and undermine the integrity of collegiate sports. Baker commended Governor DeWine's swift action to address these issues while responsibly regulating Ohio's growing sports betting industry.
Ohio Stakeholders Rally Behind NCAA’s Move to Protect Student-Athletes
Under the proposed changes, prop bets on individual player achievements during college sporting events would be banned. However, bettors would still be able to wager on overall outcomes, final scores, and other team-based bets. Professional sports contests would remain unaffected by these changes.
These amendments have garnered support from various stakeholders within Ohio's collegiate sports community, including university officials like Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith and University of Dayton vice-president Neil Sullivan. They stress the importance of shielding student-athletes from abuse and threats.
In response to the challenges posed by sports betting, the NCAA has undertaken initiatives to educate athletes and monitor online activities for prompt threat detection and resolution. The Association has also revised its penalties to ensure student-athletes are not disproportionately penalized for minor betting infractions.
As the public comment period begins, sports betting companies will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed rule changes before the Ohio Casino Control Commission makes its decision. This deliberation's outcome will likely have significant implications for the future of sports betting regulations in Ohio, especially regarding collegiate athletics.
