Legislators and regulators have increased their attention on protecting athletes and consumers six years after sports betting was legalized. Last week bills were filed to ban the use of credit cards for digital gambling and prohibit college prop bets.
Wyoming regulators will explore the idea of a college prop ban next week as part of their efforts to protect athletes.
Last week in Pennsylvania, Senator Wayne Fontana introduced a bill SB 1159 that would ban the use of credit card funding for any online gambling including sports betting, casino and lottery. Pennsylvania allows users to pay for their accounts using credit cards, however problem gambling and responsible gaming advocates argue that this practice can be harmful to those who have addiction problems.
Brianne Dougha-Schawohl, responsible gambling activist and iGB member, said: “There are a number of studies that show the harms associated with using credit cards to gamble.” The majority of established international markets ban the use of credit cards and other methods that allow credit card funding.
Pennsylvania’s bill will take effect in 60 days. It has been assigned the committee for community, economic, and recreational development. If the bill passes, Pennsylvania will join Iowa, Massachusetts, and Tennessee as states that don’t allow credit card gambling.
NCAA player props taking root
Legislators and regulators want to protect athletes as well, but credit card bans also help consumers.
WRAL reports that the North Carolina legislative session, which began on April 24, will see Representative Marcia Morey introduce legislation to ban college prop bets. This is because North Carolina legalized online sports betting in March. According to WRAL, the NCAA asked regulators and legislators in all 50 states to take a look at imposing a prohibition. According to the association, it is protecting college athletes against harassment. Louisiana Gaming Control Board has become the latest board to implement a prohibition, and it will take effect 1 August.
These types of bans are also considered by advocates of responsible and problem gambling as an additional layer of protection for athletes.
Ohio regulators banned prop bets on college players in February. Maryland banned these bets on March 1.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission said when it announced the ban that Ohio had become the 25th State to limit or prohibit college prop bets.
Some States will punish those who harass
Last July, the OCCC added an additional level of protection for athletes with a new rule prohibiting anyone who harassed a sportsperson from betting on legal markets. In February, the West Virginia Lottery added a new rule to prevent harassers from placing bets on legal markets.
Wyoming Gaming Commission, at the request of NCAA and University of Wyoming will host an information session on the 9th of May to begin to think about how it should handle future college prop bets.
