Ohio has banned player-specific prop bets on college sports as of Friday, following a request from the NCAA made in late January. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) approved the ban despite opposition from sports betting operators in the state. Player prop bets are wagers on individual athlete performances that are not tied to the final score of the game. Governor DeWine supported the decision, stating it will protect student-athletes from harassment and threats.
Neil Sullivan, the University of Dayton’s vice president and director of athletics, expressed gratitude for the ban, citing safety concerns for athletes who were being harassed over social media due to their performance. The OCCC received objections from sports gaming operators who argued that an outright ban would drive bettors to make prop bets illegally. Despite this, the OCCC approved the NCAA’s request. The ban will come into effect on Friday, and sports betting operators have until March 1 to comply.
These rule changes will only affect college sports, not professional games. Governor DeWine praised the OCCC for taking quick action to protect student-athletes and ensure that betting attention is directed towards teams rather than individual players. The decision aims to improve the marketplace in Ohio by focusing on team performance and eliminating the potentially harmful pressure on student-athletes. For more information, you can visit the OCCC’s website.
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