New Jersey Moves Toward Ban on College Prop Bets After Year of NCAA Pressure

Lawmakers in New Jersey have taken a clear step toward banning player prop bets on college sports, over a year after NCAA President Charlie Baker first raised the alarm on the issue. At the time of writing, Bill S3080 is advancing to the Senate floor following unanimous committee approval.

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New Jersey bill S3080 passed committee 5-0, now heads to Senate floor.

The bill aims to stop harassment of college athletes tied to betting outcomes.

Over a dozen states already ban college player prop bets.

The proposed law would block sportsbooks in New Jersey from offering wagers on individual performances in college games—such as total passing yards, rebounds, or touchdowns. These bets, often known as “props,” do not relate to a game’s final outcome but rather to specific stats for players. According to the bill, that kind of betting has increased pressure on athletes and fueled online abuse.

Senator Kristen Corrado introduced the legislation in April, building on efforts from the previous year. She argued that no athlete should be targeted by angry gamblers simply because they missed a shot or failed to reach a betting line. “I have heard about many individuals who have been the victim of online harassment because they didn’t perform to the expectation of a bettor,” she said. Corrado believes banning these types of bets could reduce that kind of toxic behavior and create a safer environment for student-athletes.

The NCAA has made the issue a priority since Baker stepped in as president. In March 2024, he warned that prop bets were “threatening the integrity and competition” of college athletics and contributing to a rise in harassment cases. He noted that several states had already responded to NCAA requests by removing player props from betting platforms.

At the same time, new data suggests that anti-abuse efforts may be having an effect. A recent NCAA-sponsored study found a 23% year-over-year decline in betting-related harassment during March Madness—the same year the NCAA launched a public campaign against online abuse targeting student-athletes.

So far, 15 states have banned college player props in some form. Four of them—Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, and Louisiana—took action in response to the NCAA’s request last year. Other states have been slower to act, and some legislative proposals, like one in North Carolina, failed to gain momentum.