Why Ohio granted an NCAA request to ban betting on college player props

Sports betting is now legal in the United States in 38 states (along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), but it is up to each state to decide the rules of betting within its own border. That means that some states allow betting on in-state college teams and some don’t. Some allow Esports wagering; others, not so much.

On Friday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) granted a request from the NCAA to ban individual player props on collegiate events. In other words, bettors in Ohio will no longer be able to bet on an Ohio State quarterback’s passing yards or a basketball player’s point or assist total in a game. The new regulation goes into effect on March 1.

According to ESPN’s David Purdum, the OCCC agreed prop bets on college players “could lead to bettors harassing athletes, the solicitation of insider information and attempts to manipulate small events during games.”

“Today’s decision by the Ohio Casino Control Commission to prohibit player-specific prop bets on collegiate competitions marks a significant step in the protection of student-athlete well-being and game integrity,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement on Friday.

The OCCC granted the request several weeks after Baker had written to OCCC executive director Matt Schuler, citing the potential mental health harm for student athletes, problem gambling and potential spot fixing issues with these types of wagers. The request had also received support from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

The OCCC estimated that in 2023, $104.6 million was wagered on collegiate player props, which was roughly 1.35% of the yearly handle in the state.