Louisiana bans prop betting in college sports effective August 1

Louisiana's Gaming Control Board (LGCB) has moved to ban proposition bets on college athletes, effective August 1, one week after National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker urged states to address concerns regarding such wagers.

In an order issued to licensed sports betting operators, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board emphasized the prohibition of player prop bets while allowing for the honoring of any existing wagers. Recognizing potential challenges in identifying specific players impacted by the ban, operators are urged to exert diligent efforts to adhere to the new regulation.

Chairman of the LGCB Ronnie Johns said the board began working on the order "well ahead" of the NCAA's call for action on college proposition bets. "It is the intention of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to protect the integrity of sports betting as well as the safety and integrity of college athletes," Johns said. "We feel that this order accomplishes that goal."

The move follows heightened scrutiny surrounding player props in college athletics, prompted by reports of integrity issues and player harassment in recent months. Baker highlighted the escalating concerns, citing the potential threats posed by prop bets to the integrity and competitiveness of sports, and the well-being of student-athletes.

"The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats, and many are responding by banning college prop bets," Baker said.

Louisiana now joins Maryland, Ohio and Vermont in banning all forms of prop bets on college athletes. While some states permit player prop betting exclusively on out-of-state college teams, others, such as North Carolina, have imposed no restrictions on college player props.

The call for action from the NCAA has resonated with several states, with New Jersey, Kansas and Wyoming reportedly considering similar bans.