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Committee advances ban on player-specific college prop bets after dueling testimony from NCAA and industry
Summary
A4905, which would prohibit player-specific proposition bets on college athletes, was released from committee after testimony from the NCAA supporting the bill and an industry witness warning it could drive bettors to the black market.
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee voted to release A4905, a bill that would prohibit sports-wagering licensees from offering player-specific proposition (prop) bets on college athletes.
Senator Kristin Corrado submitted written testimony in support, and Austin Mayo, assistant director of government relations for the NCAA, testified in person. Mayo cited NCAA surveys and campus administrator reports that, he said, show student-athlete harassment and high levels of student betting: he told the committee that of the 38 states that have legalized sports betting, roughly 20 allow individualized college prop bets in some capacity and that earlier in 2024 more states permitted such bets. Mayo argued individualized prop bets attach a student-athlete's name to a wager, increasing harassment risk, insider-information solicitation, and the potential for spot-fixing.
An industry witness identified in the record as Bill Grell (later addressed by the chair as Mr. Fescarol) testified in opposition, saying there is no clear evidence that offering player prop bets increases vulnerability and warning that bans can push bettors to an unregulated black market. He said the player-prop segment is a small portion of the market and argued enforcement and consumer-protection trade-offs merit reconsideration.
The committee recorded yes votes from Assemblywoman Swift, Assemblywoman Donlin, Assemblyman Allen, Assemblyman Hutchison, and the chair and announced the bill was released from committee.
