NCAA Once Again Calls for Nationwide Ban on College Prop Bets After Point-Shaving Scandal
The NCAA is once again urging regulators to ban individual college sports prop bets, following the revelation of a sweeping college basketball point-shaving scheme that federal prosecutors unsealed on Jan. 15.
The indictment alleges that 39 players across 17 teams participated in fixed games. It marks one of the largest integrity scandals to hit U.S. college sports in recent years.
A few hours later, NCAA President Charlie Baker called for a nationwide ban on individual player prop bets and other similar wagers that carry a high risk of manipulation, such as first-half unders.
The concern with individual prop bets is that they’re relatively easy to manipulate. Unlike full-game outcomes, prop bets can be influenced by a single missed shot, a foul, or an early substitution. That lowers the barrier to manipulation.
College athletes are also easier targets for bettors to exploit, as their NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) earnings are relatively low compared to what professional athletes earn.
In a letter to state gambling regulators on Thursday, Baker highlighted how the latest scandal shows the dangers that betting on college sports can pose to game integrity and to student-athletes.
Requesting a Nationwide Prop Bet Ban
The NCAA is once again calling on regulators to ban prop bets, after first making this request in 2023. So far, only Ohio, Vermont, Maryland, and Louisiana have adopted restrictions preventing operators from offering college athlete prop bets. That underscores the limited regulatory uptake despite repeated NCAA warnings.
Baker did note in his letter that other states are currently considering similar moves. He also expects further bills to come to the fore over the next few months. New Jersey lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban micro-betting, and a bill in Indiana would ban college sports prop bets.
The NCAA also wants harsher punishment for any bettors who’re caught harassing athletes. A recent survey showed that 36% of Division I men’s basketball players have been abused by people over their wagers.
Another NCAA request is that the organization has a say in which betting markets regulators deem allowable before their introduction.
Baker’s letter argued that prop bets function as a form of “micro-betting.” He added that they pose heightened addiction risks, particularly for college-age consumers. Bkaer further emphasized that gambling is generally more addictive for people of college-going age.
An Issue in Professional Sports
It’s not just an issue that concerns the college sports scene. Several high-profile scandals have surfaced in the professional ranks in recent years regarding individual prop bets.
Most notably, Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA in April 2024 after intentionally leaving games early to ensure bettors would win on his individual prop bets.
Similar integrity concerns have emerged in MLB. There, Cleveland Guardians players Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz allegedly manipulated their pitches in exchange for bribes. This scandal led MLB to require partner sportsbooks to introduce a $200 max bet on individual pitch markets and to exclude these markets from parlays.
Reining in the Betting Sector
The U.S. sports scene as a whole has a big task ahead to rein in match-fixing. The NCAA has refused to follow the approach of major professional sports leagues by not partnering with sportsbook operators.
Thursday’s statement is the latest example of its leadership in the fight to protect game integrity. The timing is notable, coming just one day after Baker sent a separate letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) urging the agency to halt prediction markets tied to college sports. He cited similar integrity and athlete-safety concerns.
As legalized betting continues to expand, the NCAA has drawn a clear line that unchecked prop betting markets are a growing threat that regulators need to address before more integrity scandals come to light.
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
