Congress Targets College Prop Bets with New Bill
A new bill hit Congress on February 25, aiming to stop prop bets on college athletes. Called the PROTECT Act, or H.R. 1552, it zeroes in on individual student performances. Congressman Michael Baumgartner from Washington leads the charge and he wants to shield young athletes from gambling pressures.
How It Works and Who Enforces It
Baumgartner, who chairs the College Sports Caucus, sees trouble brewing. Sports betting has exploded on campuses lately. As a result, harassment of student athletes is up.
Some even face pressure to fix games for cash. So, the PROTECT Act steps in to safeguard integrity in college sports. It tackles those risks head-on without scrapping all betting options.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would handle enforcement. They’d treat violations as unfair business practices. For example, if a sportsbook takes prop bets on a college player’s stats, the FTC could step in.
This setup keeps the focus narrow: protecting students, not overhauling sports betting entirely. Meanwhile, the bill sits with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, awaiting its next move.
The Bigger Picture
Another bill, the SAFE Bet Act, resurfaced on March 11, 2025. Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced it during a press conference. Unlike PROTECT, SAFE Bet goes big. It pushes for a total prop bet ban, college and pro alike. Plus, it tackles broader issues like ads and consumer protections.
However, PROTECT stays laser-focused on student-athletes. Both share some overlap, like curbing bets on amateurs. Yet, SAFE Bet’s wider scope grabs more headlines.
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