North Carolina’s 2024 legislative session is winding down without any movement coming on a push to ban college player props from the Tar Heel State’s sports betting catalog.
House Bill 967 was filed by Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) on May 1 but never made it out of the rules, calendar, and operations committee.
Both chambers adjourned last week with just a few committee meetings scheduled this month.
“It is unlikely to move this year,” Hannah Smith, Morey’s legislative assistant, told Covers on Wednesday.
Up against it
HB 967 didn’t garner much support from the start.
Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) openly stated that the college player prop debate wouldn’t be considered in the short legislative session.
It’s unknown if Morey, a former college and Olympic athlete, will continue her pursuit to ban wagering on college players’ individual stats in 2025.
HB 967 had called for a college player and Olympic prop ban to go into effect on July 1. Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) filed a companion bill that never got anywhere in the other chamber either.
Response to NCAA
The proposal came in response to NCAA president Charlie Baker asking all legal sports betting states to ban college player props due to the harassment of athletes.
“We’re forgetting about the individuals who are actually playing the game and having the pressure on them,” Morey told CBS 17 earlier this year when discussing the prop-bet issue. “Let’s give them a break. Then to know in the back of your mind, ‘Oh, well, people are going to watch every stroke, every turn, betting on every move I make,’ it takes away from the thrill of the sport, the enjoyment.”
Maryland, Ohio, and Vermont banned college player props already this year while Louisiana will disallow those wagers beginning Aug. 1.
Early success
The robust North Carolina sports betting catalog has helped the state’s eight online sportsbooks generate $2.2 billion in wagers and $275 million in gross revenue since March 11.
The Tar Heel State’s early success came on the heels of March Madness in a college-centric market. How much college player props led to basketball profits is unknown.
With the college sports season over, North Carolina saw the June handle fall 24% compared to May while revenue dipped 36% month-over-month.
