A New Jersey Assembly committee advanced bill A4905 with a 5-0 vote, moving forward legislation that would prohibit sportsbooks from offering player-specific proposition bets on collegiate sports events.

Introduced by Assemblyman Sterley S. Stanley (D-18) in October, the bill aligns with recent NCAA efforts to protect student-athletes from betting-related harassment. A companion bill, S3080, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Kristin M. Corrado (R-40) in April.

The proposed legislation would specifically ban wagering on individual college player performance metrics while still allowing other forms of college sports betting.

Key points about the bill:

• Aims to reduce student-athlete harassment
• Follows similar bans in Louisiana, Ohio, Vermont, and Maryland
• Responds to NCAA President Charlie Baker's nationwide initiative

Industry Response: Fanatics Betting & Gaming VP Brandt Iden warns the ban could push bettors to unregulated markets, arguing it may not effectively address player harassment concerns.

Current Status:

• Assembly tourism, gaming and the arts committee approved 5-0
• Senate version awaiting hearing in state government committee
• Requires full Assembly and Senate approval to become law

This initiative represents part of a broader national movement to restrict college player prop betting, with several states already implementing similar restrictions at the NCAA's request.

Related Articles

Previous Articles