The “Battle of the Ban” continues in North Carolina and the future of online sportsbooks in the Tar Heel State still looks uncertain.
Backing the Ban
Representative Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat, plans to introduce a bill that bans prop bets. This plan aligns with a recent suggestion from the NCAA to disallow prop betting on individual college athletes. Morey, a former college and Olympic swimmer, voted against the sports betting bill when it initially passed.
“We’re forgetting about the individuals who are actually playing the game and having the pressure on them. Let’s give them a break,” she said. “Then to know in the back of your mind, oh well people are going to watch every stroke, every turn, betting on every move I make, it takes away from the thrill of the sport, the enjoyment.”
It’s been less than a year since the North Carolina General Assembly approved retail and online sports betting. The bill that they passed and which became law included player prop betting.
Morey does have one powerful person who backs her bill.
NCAA President Calling for Prop Bet Ban
NCAA president Charlie Baker started a campaign to ask legal sports betting states to stop allowing bets on individual student-athletes before that.
“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes getting harassed,” Baker said in a statement posted on social media. “The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets.”
This month, Louisiana regulators took action against prop bets. Meanwhile, Ohio and Maryland banned the wagers earlier this year.
Several states including Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon have rules prohibiting prop betting on college athletes that predate the NCAA’s recent push. Others such as Illinois, Connecticut, and Iowa do not allow college athlete prop bets involving in-state teams.
NC Lawmakers Not Expected To Support a Ban
However, some of the legislature’s powerful GOP leaders, who are pro-sports-betting, have previously stated their intention to protect prop betting and don’t seem to be following suit anytime soon. State Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, the main supporter of sports betting in the state House, has stated that they will not consider it this year.
On the social media platform X, State Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, who’s the main supporter in the North Carolina Senate, suggested, ‘Introducing legislation to ban the NCAA would be more productive.’
The Battle Wages On
An analysis by Citizens JMP Securities estimates that nearly 2% of sports betting revenue comes from college player props. JMP forecasts that without a proper solution to the current issue, sportsbooks could potentially face an annual deficit of up to $200 million.
Legal analyst John Holden told the Legal Sports Report, “While it may appear that prohibiting player props could solve the problem, the reality is different. Regardless of the ban, there will always be someone placing player prop bets. Hence, we wouldn’t be eradicating the market but rather pushing it underground where it’s harder to regulate. The actual solution is to improve education on league regulations, gambling laws, and policies, and to boost funding for resources tackling gambling issues.”
Money typically talks in these situations, so the negotiations will continue. We’ll have to wait and see how far Morey’s bill can go and if lawmakers will provide the necessary support. Stay tuned.
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