Zona de Azar USA – Louisiana Gaming Board Chief Explains Crackdown on College Athlete Prop Bets

USA.- April 11, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board isn’t messing around when it comes to protecting student-athletes. Chairman Ronnie Johns recently explained the board’s decision to ban prop bets on individual college athletes in the state, effective August 1st.

“Our job is twofold,” Johns said. “We need to ensure the integrity of sports betting, but also the safety and overall well-being of college athletes.” He added, “Interestingly, we were already considering this ban before the NCAA even made their request. It just happened to coincide with their push for a nationwide ban.”

This move follows National Collegiate Athletic Association President Charlie Baker’s call in late March for a nationwide ban on college prop bets. Baker’s concerns stemmed from a worrying trend: harassment of athletes by bettors. Prop bets, which allow wagers on individual player performance rather than team outcomes, have come under fire after Baker revealed that a third of student-athletes reported harassment linked to such bets.

“The situation with Kayshon Boutte, the former LSU player who bet on himself, really highlighted the potential dangers,” Johns remarked. Investigations confirmed that the 20-year-old participated in sports gambling during his time with the Louisiana Tigers (2022-2023).

New Jersey recently joined the growing list of states taking action against college player prop bets. They’ve introduced a bill proposing a complete ban. Maryland, Ohio, and Vermont have already implemented similar restrictions.

“This is a national conversation,” Johns emphasized. “We won’t be alone in doing this. Most likely, every state with legalized sports betting will be addressing this issue in some way.”

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com