NCAA President Charlie Baker has released a statement via X (formerly Twitter) regarding sports betting and student athletes.
This week has seen the NBA open an investigation relating to prop bet abnormalities regarding Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, with prop bets flagged in two specific games relating to his performance.
Following this, the NCAA President has urged state lawmakers to remove college prop bets from all betting markets, in an effort to protect the integrity of the game and protect student-athletes.
Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and a number of other states have already removed college prop bets from their betting markets.
Baker has previously voiced his concern overall for the effect legal sports wagering has had on college sporting integrity, looking at the increased pressure that may be put on student-athletes from prop bets.
His latest statement reads: “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 and professional athletes getting harassed.
“The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats and many are responding by banning college prop bets.
“This week we will be contacting officials across the country in states that still allow these bets and ask them to join Ohio, Vermont, Maryland and many others and remove college prop bets from all betting markets.
“The NCAA is drawing the line on sports betting to protect student-athletes and to protect the integrity of the game – issues across the country these last several days show there is more work to be done.”
In other legal news today, Mississippi House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Trey Lamar has announced that a recent bill to allow a casino in Jackson will not move forward.
