US Congress bill seeks nationwide ban on college athlete prop betting

A new bill in Congress is looking to ban prop betting on college athletes across the country. It was introduced by Washington Congressman Michael Baumgartner, who also heads the College Sports Caucus.

Officially labeled H.R. 1552, the bill is called the Providing Responsible Oversight and Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes Act, or just the PROTECT Student Athletes Act for short.

College prop betting ‘a national concern’

The bill text states that ensuring the welfare of student-athletes is a “national concern” and that regulation of betting practices was “essential to safeguard the integrity, well-being, and educational environments of such athletes.”

If the bill passes, the Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for enforcing it. Any sportsbook offering prop bets on college athletes would be violating the Federal Trade Commission Act.

The bill is currently sitting with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where it was sent on February 25. It hasn’t been read yet, so it’s still in the early stages.

Learn more about the PROTECT Student Athletes Act and access the full bill text belowhttps://t.co/wd8YOOWUVY

— Congressman Michael Baumgartner (@RepBaumgartner) February 26, 2025

In a separate statement, Baumgartner said: “Sports gambling on college campuses has surged in recent years.

“Student athletes dedicate themselves to their sport and education, and it’s essential that we protect their integrity both on and off the field.

“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.”

Students reportedly harassed by bettors

A study last fall by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Signify revealed that thousands of “angry sports bettors” were harassing student-athletes in public social media posts.

March Madness begins amid a major shift in college sports: A $3 billion settlement, NIL payments and concerns over sports betting. Maurice DuBois sat down with NCAA President Charlie Baker to discuss the changes reshaping the game. pic.twitter.com/O8BFMgIX1G

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 18, 2025

Ahead of March Madness, one of the biggest betting seasons of the year, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged states to ban college prop bets. Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday (Mar. 18), Baker called it a “bad situation.”

He added: “Go sit behind the bench at one of these conference tournaments and listen to the bettors, yell and scream at these kids about their performance.”

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