The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has made the decision to ban player-specific prop bets in college sports following concerns expressed by the NCAA President and Ohio Governor about harassment of individual players. This decision comes after a concerning incident involving hate messages received by University of Dayton Men’s Basketball players from upset gamblers. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and NCAA President Charlie Baker both supported the ban to protect student-athletes from threats and maintain the integrity of collegiate competitions.
OCCC Chief Thomas J. Stickrath stated that player-specific prop bets accounted for less than 1.4% of total sports wagers and taxable revenue in Ohio in 2023, but they increased the likelihood of targeted harassment towards individual student-athletes. Although some gaming operators opposed the ban, citing their ability to address harassment allegations, the OCCC emphasized the importance of protecting student-athletes and game integrity.
The OCCC set restrictions on proposition bets on individual athlete performance in NCAA events, allowing team performance prop bets based on historical data of team statistics. Sports betting operators have until March 1, 2024 to implement the restrictions and void all impacted wagers. The decision aims to prevent threats and harassment to student-athletes and maintain a responsible and regulated sports betting industry in Ohio.
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