Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing about legalized sports gambling.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
WASHINGTON — On Capitol Hill, NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the need for federal oversight on sports gambling, advocating for the prohibition of “prop bets” in collegiate sports. Speaking to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Baker highlighted the rise in athlete harassment correlating with legalized betting over the past six years.
The Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to allow sports gambling nationwide has reportedly led to increased abuse towards student-athletes. Baker noted, “We believe that when bettors can’t gamble on college athletes’ individual performances, they’re far less likely to attempt to scrutinize, coerce or harass student-athletes.”
Prop bets involve wagering on aspects other than the final score, such as a player’s performance metrics. Currently, around 20 states permit these bets on college sports, potentially exposing athletes to harassment. Baker cited that 10 to 15% of NCAA Division I athletes report harassment, particularly in football and basketball.
Baker shared instances like Armando Bacot, a University of North Carolina player, who received threatening messages about his game performance. He stressed the need for regulations preventing known harassers from future betting.
Senators met to discuss a bill to regulate sports gambling
The congressional hearing revolved around a proposed bill aiming to impose stringent regulations on sports gambling. With sports betting legal in nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia, the industry saw Americans wager approximately $120 billion last year.
Research indicates legalization has spurred irresponsible betting behaviors, particularly among young men. A recent NCAA study found that two-thirds of college-aged men have engaged in sports betting.
The “S.A.F.E. Bet Act,” co-authored by Senator Richard Blumenthal, seeks to ban college sports prop bets, restrict gambling ads, prohibit credit card deposits, and mandate affordability checks for high-volume bettors. However, the bill’s passage before the current congressional session ends seems unlikely.
Republicans raise the issue of transgender athletes
During the hearing, Republican senators questioned Baker about transgender athletes in NCAA women’s sports. Baker clarified that fewer than 10 transgender athletes compete across NCAA’s three divisions. This issue recently resurfaced when some teams opted out of matches against San Jose State due to a transgender player.
In related legal matters, federal courts have cleared the way for transgender athletes’ participation despite opposition. Baker expressed a desire for clearer policies, stating, “I would love to work with you folks on creating clarity around this question.”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
