A bill that would ban college player props at sportsbooks in New Jersey is acquiring traction in the legislature.

The New Jersey Assembly's tourism, video gaming, and arts committee voted Thursday to release A4905, advancing the legislation and moving it closer to passage in Trenton.

A4905 - and its twin in the New Jersey Senate, S3080 - would prohibit sportsbooks from using or accepting "any wager on a player-specific proposition bet on any collegiate sport or athletic occasion."

In other words, there would be no more college player props for Garden State punters at in your area regulated sportsbooks if the costs becomes law.

While New Jersey sports betting guidelines restrict betting on in-state college teams, they allow banking on college player props, a minimum of in the meantime.

"As one of the first states to legalize sports betting, I think that it is our obligation to ensure that we set the very best example we potentially can for all others who want to follow our lead," said Democratic Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, A4905's sponsor, in a declaration following the committee vote. "Even as a strong fan of the sports wagering industry, I believe it is incumbent upon us to acknowledge the unbelievable pressures that college athletes face between their scholastic and athletic duties. My legislation guarantees that they do not have those pressures compounded by problem bettors that have concerned harass our college professional athletes when gamblers lose money on college gamer proposition bets."

Be 'affordable'

If New Jersey were to prohibit college gamer props, it would continue the current trend of states kiboshing those betting markets over issues of student-athlete harassment and abuse, amongst other things.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its president, previous Massachusetts guv Charlie Baker, have been lobbying states for prop restrictions with those concerns in mind. The NCAA supports A4905.

"Sports betting is on the increase, and with it, so is the threat for college professional athletes, and there is no concern they are getting bugged by wagerers," Austin Meo, the assistant director of government relations for the NCAA, told the Assembly committee on Thursday. "That threatens the integrity of the video game, and it threatens the wellness of college professional athletes all over."

Meo said that 20 states allow college gamer props in some form. However, he also noted that at the start of 2024, there were 24 states, before Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana moved this year to limit those wagering markets.

"Taking a reasonable action that half the states with sports betting have required to forbid prop bets is something New Jersey can do to help react to this severe concern," Meo stated.

Highway to 'hell'

There is no assurance New Jersey will go through with a college gamer prop restriction, although recent history suggests there is an opportunity. Nevertheless, A4905 and S3080 will deal with opposition from certified sportsbook operators and other interested parties in the Garden State, among the most fully grown markets for legal sports betting in the U.S.

Lobbyist Bill Pascrell, of Princeton Public Affairs Group, informed the Assembly committee on Thursday that there is "no proof or positive details" from the concerned celebrations that enabling prop bets makes players more susceptible than permitting wagering on college teams.

Pascrell stated banning college player props will shift that action to illegal and overseas sportsbooks, even if that action is a fairly little percentage of all sports wagering.

"The states don't have the long arm of the law to reach the black market," Pascrell stated in opposing the costs. "This makes sure that folks that bet this type of prop bet, and it's a little section of the industry, around 2 to 4%, will just go to the black market. And we do not see any proof positive that by providing this bet, we're making folks more susceptible, due to the fact that the bet will simply move to the black market."

Pascrell stated New Jersey's ban on in-state college betting pressed banking on those schools in basketball tournaments to the black market or sportsbooks in nearby states.

"I know this bill has the very best of intents, but I believe sometimes the roadway to hell is paved by the finest of intentions, and I think we ought to reconsider this concern, because I'm concerned about the surge of the black market and this will help those in the black market," Pascrell told the committee.

College gamer prop wagering is ended up in Ohio since March 1. Matthew Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, announced today he approved the NCAA's request to prohibit such betting. Any staying futures must be voided by next Friday.