Big Ten Athletes Call On NCAA to Ban College Prop Betting

College prop betting is a hot-button issue across the USA, and it’s one that the people most affected by these types of wagers are formally addressing with the leadership of the NCAA.

The Big Ten Student Athlete Issues Commission (SAIC), the formal athlete leadership body for players in the conference, is requesting that the NCAA ban, or at the very least, place significant restrictions on player-specific prop wagering in college sports.

A letter making this request was delivered to NCAA President Charlie Baker by all 22 members of the SAIC.

“As members of the Big Ten Student-Athlete Issues Commission, we are writing to share our concerns about the growing use of proposition (“prop”) betting in college athletics and the threat it poses to student-athletes,” the letter reads. “We are advocating on behalf of our teammates, competitors, and student-athlete peers across the Big Ten and NCAA.”

Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s basketball player Callin Hake serves as Chair of the SAIC. Michigan State Spartans cross-country and track competitor Mia Rogan and Wisconsin Badgers swimming and diving team member Michael Long serve as Vice Chairs.

“While we understand that sports betting is becoming increasingly more common across the country and allows for states to generate increased tax revenue, prop betting presents unique risks at the college level,” the letter continues. “These bets focus on individual and team actions and performances, leaving student-athletes directly at the center of gambling outcomes and exposed to potential backlash.”

Student-athletes worry about how prop betting affects the integrity of college sports

Concerns about how these bets impact the integrity of college sports are one element that is addressed in the letter. A recent NCAA basketball betting scandal involved a number of players from several schools who were caught manipulating the outcome of certain prop bets.

“When bets are tied to individual statistics or plays, it creates pressure and suspicion around student-athletes’ performance,” the letter notes. “Even when no wrongdoing occurs, prop betting can raise doubts about effort, decision-making, and fairness. This damages trust in competition and puts student-athletes in a vulnerable position.”

College athletes have spoken publicly about pressures placed upon them by losing bettors, including personal attacks and threats made through social media.

“Prop betting exposes student-athletes to increased and aggravated social media pressure and harassment,” the letter notes. “Many student-athletes receive angry messages, threats, or public criticism from bettors when wagers do not hit.”

Worries are also expressed that college athletes may be more susceptible to the influence of unscrupulous bettors than seasoned professional players.

“Given the amateur status of student-athletes, external pressures associated with prop betting can be magnified,” the letter reads. “These athletes are often young and more susceptible to influence, including financial incentives that may encourage them to perform in a certain way or affect specific outcomes.

“Prop bets are relatively easy to influence on the part of the player, should they be involved or influenced by the wrong people, but eliminating prop bets would help protect the integrity of college sports and reduce the external pressure on student-athletes.”

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