Missouri Sports Betting Market to Allow College Player Props

College player prop bets won’t be leaving the new Missouri sports betting market….yet.

The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) announced it will not ban the controversial bet type. The NCAA requested the ban after a major scandal was uncovered, leading to federal charges against several former men's basketball players. The league has linked player props to the rise of athlete harassment and betting scandals, but the Missouri sports betting market will continue to offer them.

The MGC cited a lack of evidence for its decision, although it will continue to consider the ban as more information becomes available. 

NCAA Continues Fight Against Player Props

While MGC didn’t feel a ban was justified for the Missouri sports betting market, the NCAA strongly disagrees.

NCAA President Charlie Baker has been campaigning against college player prop bets for over a year. The fight began following a disturbing spike in the harassment of college athletes from angry bettors. Baker believes this is due to player prop bets, which allow losing bettors a single target for their ire. 

This has led to threats against amateur athletes on social media and in real life. Unlike pro athletes, most don’t have large NIL deals or other sources of income to afford security details. That makes the harassment hit even harder for these young players.

Since then, the NCAA has also become concerned about athletes' ability to influence the outcomes of player props. This can tempt players without pro prospects to score some easy cash, as seen in the league’s latest scandal. 

Prediction Markets Battle Missouri Sports Betting

While the NCAA won’t be happy with Missouri’s sports betting decision, there is a good reason for it.

The growth of sports prediction markets continues across the US, despite the objections of states. While still not considered a form of gambling, many operators have or are planning on launching more betting markets. This includes player props and no plans to ban them for college events.

If Missouri has enacted a ban on the controversial bet type, it may have pushed residents towards prediction platforms. That would lead to a significant tax revenue loss, which helps fund problem gambling programs and other important initiatives. Missouri wasn’t ready to take that chance, and other states may follow suit.

NCAA Grows Desperate for Solutions

Charlie Baker has not been shy about his views on overregulated sports betting. He has been sounding the alarm for years over its impact on college sports, issuing public calls to federal and state lawmakers across the US.

Unfortunately, the changes the NCAA is hoping for don’t seem to be coming. That has led them to take some drastic steps, including amending their full ban on gambling. The league approved a plan to allow college athletes and staff to wager on professional sports, citing peer pressure from non-athletes on campus who bet on sports.

The NCAA reversed course on the drastic move following public backlash. Many viewed it as a terrible idea, despite the league openly admitting it was desperate for solutions.