Louisiana bans in-state collegiate prop bets, citing ‘safety and integrity’ of athletes

Prop betting on college athletics will be banned in the state of Louisiana ahead of the 2024 NCAA football season.

The state banned licensed sportsbooks from allowing prop bets on Wednesday, with the ban taking effect at 8 a.m. local time on August 1. The ban is something NCAA president Charlie Baker called upon all states last month in a press release, as a way to protect college athletes from facing harassment online from bettors based on bets hitting or not.

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LSU baseball was indirectly involved in a major scandal last season with Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon involved in the betting of an LSU-Alabama baseball game.

“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,” Louisiana Gaming Control Board chairman Ronnie Johns said in a statement. “We feel that this order accomplishes that goal.”

Vermont, Ohio and Maryland are states that have banned college prep bets, while other states have explored such options. Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Oregon are states that have rules that prohibit prop bets on college events, while three states, Illinois, Connecticut and Iowa, don't allow prop betting for in-state programs.

What is a prop bet?

The player prop bets will only apply to individual games. In those cases, prop bets involve how many points, rebounds, assists or turnovers a player has in a single college basketball game. Or how many yards or touchdowns an individual player will have in a college football game. The ban does not impact betting on outcomes of games or spreads.

Louisiana does not have a blanket betting law like most states. In 2020, voters in 55 of 64 of the state's parishes - geographic region or local government - approved sports betting. That will remain intact when the ban takes place. As will the betting on season-long awards, like the Heisman Trophy.

As of Wednesday, prop bets are and will remain legal in Michigan, Kansas, and Wyoming.