Federal Lawmakers Considering Bill to Ban College Player Prop Betting

College prop betting is under fire as the 2025 NCAA Tournament kicks off.

The Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes Act (PROTECT Act) has been introduced into Congress. US Rep. Michael Baumgartner proposed the bill to end college player prop betting. 

“Sports gambling on college campuses has surged in recent years,” Baumgartner said in a press release. “Student-athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education, and it’s essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field. This bill doesn’t ban betting on college sports games, but it targets wagers on student athletes’ individual performances. We are witnessing a troubling rise in harassment of college athletes on campuses, as well as an alarming increase in cases of student-athletes being coerced into throwing games for financial gain.”

College player prop bets have come under fire as betting scandals plague US college and pro sports. Several athletes have been involved in fixing schemes where they intentionally control their stats to ensure specific prop bets hit.

If the PROTECT Act were proposed just after the SAFE Bet Act was reintroduced, Congress would have two chances to crack down on the sports betting industry significantly.

Is the Integrity of March Madness Still Intact?

The American Gaming Association projects that $3.1 billion in wagers will be placed on the 2025 edition of March Madness. While these numbers would show that the public still believes in the integrity of college basketball, they also make the tournament a ripe target for fixing prop bets.

Law enforcement groups across the US are expected to be watching closely for any signs of suspicious betting. The rise in scandals has given them experience in detecting and prosecuting them, which they hope will help ensure the tournament's integrity.

While college athletics, including men’s basketball, has seen several scandals over the last few years, none have occurred during a significant event like March Madness. Sportsbooks and regulators both know college betting is under fire, and a scandal during one of the world’s most popular betting events could lead to aggressive crackdowns on the industry.