NCAA President Baker Revives Player Prop Bet Campaign

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Jul 09, 2026, 9:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

NCAA President Baker Revives Player Prop Bet Campaign

industry

NCAA President Charlie Baker has renewed his campaign to eliminate or significantly reduce player prop betting on college athletes. 

He continues to argue that the wagers expose student-athletes to harassment, threaten game integrity, and create unnecessary gambling-related pressure. 

Baker recently reiterated his position during appearances on Face the Nation and in interviews with gambling media. He urged regulators and US online sportsbooks to reconsider offering these betting markets. 

His latest remarks also come as lawmakers and regulators continue debating sports betting reforms across several states, making college player props a renewed focus within the broader discussion.

Baker: College Player Prop Bets Put Athletes and Competition at Risk

Unlike traditional wagers based on a game's final outcome, player prop bets focus on an individual athlete's statistical performance. Bettors can wager on categories such as points scored, rebounds, assists, passing yards, or strikeouts. 

While these markets have become popular because of expanding NCAA odds and betting options, Baker believes they encourage unhealthy attention toward individual student-athletes.

He argues that bettors often blame a single player when a wager loses, creating an environment that differs significantly from conventional team-based betting. 

As a result, the NCAA continues asking regulators and sportsbooks to eliminate most college player prop markets while preserving traditional game wagers and NCAA picks.

Athlete Harassment Remains the NCAA's Greatest Concern

Baker said abusive messages from disappointed bettors remain one of the NCAA's most pressing issues. The association has documented numerous cases involving student-athletes receiving threats and online harassment after individual performances affected betting outcomes.

"Honestly, it's disgraceful, it's demeaning, and it's incredibly demoralizing for student athletes," Baker said in a recent interview. "And I think we're starting to win this discussion and this debate with the public, and I'm anxious to have a lot of the folks who are part of our community get deeply involved and organized on this one."

The NCAA believes player prop betting changes fan behavior because disappointed bettors frequently target individual athletes instead of simply accepting a team loss. 

Consequently, Baker maintains that removing these betting markets would reduce the incentive for bettors to single out student-athletes after games.

Individual Prop Bets Present Unique Integrity Risks

Beyond harassment concerns, Baker argues that player props create additional integrity risks because they revolve around isolated player statistics rather than overall team performance.

Unlike a traditional point spread or moneyline wager, an individual prop can hinge on one player's rebounds, touchdowns, or passing attempts. That structure increases concerns about outside influence and potential attempts to affect specific statistical outcomes.

The NCAA believes protecting student-athletes from those pressures remains essential as legal sports betting continues expanding throughout the United States. 

Baker has repeatedly stated that maintaining public confidence in collegiate competition requires limiting markets that create unnecessary integrity questions.

Professional Leagues are Also Reviewing High-risk Prop Wagers

Baker noted that professional sports leagues have also acknowledged concerns surrounding certain prop betting markets.

He praised organizations such as Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL) for exploring or implementing restrictions involving high-risk wagers tied to individual performances. 

Although professional athletes generally have greater support systems than college athletes, Baker said the underlying integrity concerns still deserve attention.

His comments suggest limiting risky betting markets could become a broader industry trend, rather than just a collegiate issue.

Though not eliminating all prop bets, professional leagues are increasingly willing to review markets creating integrity vulnerabilities.

Baker has Campaigned Against College Player Props Since 2023

Baker began raising concerns about college player prop betting shortly after becoming NCAA president in the spring of 2023. From the outset, he identified athlete harassment and game integrity as major issues requiring action as sports betting expanded nationwide.

Since then, the NCAA has worked with state regulators, lawmakers, and sportsbook operators to encourage restrictions on individual player markets. The association reports that 17 of 39 states with legal sports betting now restrict or prohibit collegiate player props.

The campaign has produced mixed results. Some states adopted restrictions after reviewing the NCAA's recommendations, while others declined to change existing regulations. Nevertheless, Baker believes public opinion continues shifting toward stronger protections for student-athletes.

His latest comments signal that the NCAA will maintain its state-by-state strategy instead of pursuing a nationwide federal ban. 

As policies evolve, college player props will remain a key debate for regulators, US online sportsbooks, and collegiate athletics.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.