Congress to Probe College Sports Betting and Player-Prop Restrictions
House hearing on 11 November will examine player props, VIP programmes and campus protections.
Key Takeaways
- A House hearing chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens will examine college sports betting on 11 November 2026.
- NCAA president Charlie Baker supports state bans on college player prop bets targeting individual athletes.
- Rep. Michael Baumgartner introduced the PROTECT Student Athletes Act in February 2025 to ban college player prop bets nationwide.
- 39 states and Washington, D.C., have legalised sports wagering since the 2018 Supreme Court decision, but rules on player props vary.
Congress will examine college sports betting and restrictions on player prop wagers at a House hearing on November 11, 2026. The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens, will focus on athlete harassment, sportsbook practices and student protections. NCAA president Charlie Baker has urged states to ban player prop bets that target individual college athletes.
What the hearing will cover
The hearing, titled “The Rise of Sports Gambling on College Campuses,” is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on November 11 in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Rep. Burgess Owens will chair the meeting; Owens played college football at Miami from 1969 to 1972 and was a first-round NFL Draft selection in 1973. Officials have not released a detailed public agenda. The hearing will stream on the committee YouTube channel.
Congressional scrutiny has already touched several fronts. On October 22, Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) requested details about sports betting policies from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Patronis wrote, “Seeing as the ACC is asking Congress for help with NIL, I believe we must have transparency regarding each body’s policies and how they navigate online betting.” Separately, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) have sought information on sportsbook VIP programmes after previously accusing FanDuel of providing “misleading and incomplete” answers.
State rules, federal bill and market context
Sportsbooks operate under different college betting rules across the United States. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting ban in 2018, 39 states and Washington, D.C. have legalised sports wagering, but not every state allows every type of college bet. Some states prohibit individual college player props; others permit them under specific conditions. These wagers focus on individual performances rather than final game results.
Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) introduced the PROTECT Student Athletes Act in February 2025 to address manipulation risks. The proposal would ban college player prop bets nationwide while still allowing betting on college games where states permit wagering. A federal restriction of that kind would reduce variation between state betting markets, while states would retain authority over other sports wagering matters.
Advertising, campus partnerships and responsible marketing
College betting concerns extend to advertising near campuses and university partnerships. Many states restrict sportsbook advertising close to higher-education campuses. The American Gaming Association updated its responsible marketing code in 2023 to bar members from forming university partnerships that promote sports betting, though exceptions exist for alumni engagement, responsible gambling education and problem-gambling awareness. Those measures aim to limit promotion of wagering among students while separate rules address match-fixing and harassment of college athletes.
Congress will test whether current protections are sufficient for the risks lawmakers cite, including harassment, potential game manipulation and targeted VIP marketing. The committee will hear from operators, conferences and advocacy groups as part of the November 11 session.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Congress holding the hearing on college sports betting?
The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will meet on November 11, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and the hearing will stream on the committee YouTube channel.
What would the PROTECT Student Athletes Act do?
The PROTECT Student Athletes Act, introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner in February 2025, would prohibit wagers on individual college student-athletes nationwide while allowing betting on college game results where states permit wagering.
Do states currently allow college player prop bets?
State rules differ: after the 2018 Supreme Court decision, 39 states and Washington, D.C., legalised sports wagering, but some states prohibit individual college player props while others permit them under conditions.
Which lawmakers have sought information from sports organisations and operators?
Rep. Jimmy Patronis requested sports betting policies from the Atlantic Coast Conference on October 22, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Paul Tonko and Rep. Valerie Foushee have sought details about sportsbook VIP programmes, citing concerns including responses from FanDuel.
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About the author
Tessa Coleman
Betting Markets Correspondent
Tessa Coleman covers betting products and markets — sportsbook launches, odds and trading technology, and the fast-growing prediction-market space from regulated exchanges to event contracts. The stories lead with the product or the ruling, name the operators and platforms precisely, and translate trading jargon into what bettors can actually do. When a book reworks its pricing or a prediction market wins a license fight, Tessa Coleman explains the mechanics and the stakes.
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