Twelve US states now prohibit player prop bets on college athletes, up from just three at the start of 2024. The most recent additions — Massachusetts (March 2026) and Vermont (April 2026) — bring the total to 12, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association has signaled it will continue lobbying state regulators to extend the prohibition nationwide.
Which states have banned college props
The states currently restricting college player props (as of April 2026): Ohio, Maryland, Vermont, Louisiana, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Each state's rule varies slightly — most prohibit individual-player props (over/unders, anytime touchdown, first basket, etc.) but still allow team-level wagers (spread, total, moneyline). New York's rules are the most expansive: no college player props of any kind, including for non-NY-based schools when a New York-based team is involved.
What's still allowed
Standard team markets remain legal in all US betting states for college sports: point spreads, totals, moneylines, futures (national champion, conference winner), and team-level live betting. Same-Game Parlays involving only team-level legs (e.g., Alabama -7 + Over 52.5) remain available even in restricted states. The targeted restrictions affect only individual-athlete markets.
The NCAA's argument
The NCAA's position, articulated by President Charlie Baker since 2023, centers on player welfare and integrity. Internal NCAA data presented to state regulators shows a sharp rise in social-media harassment of college athletes following game outcomes — a Harvard School of Public Health study cited in the lobbying materials estimates 1 in 3 D1 athletes received targeted harassment in 2024-25 related to specific player-prop outcomes. The integrity argument is harder to substantiate empirically; documented match-fixing cases involving college props remain rare, though NCAA officials cite "near-misses" detected by sportsbook surveillance.
Operator response
Major sportsbook operators have largely complied without public pushback. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars all updated their college markets within 30 days of each state law's effective date. Privately, operators have noted that college player props represent a small fraction of total handle (typically 1-3%) and that the integrity-monitoring overhead on college markets is disproportionately high. The economic loss is manageable.
What bettors should do
If you live in one of the 12 restricted states and previously bet college player props, the practical workaround is limited. Some bettors have shifted that volume into team-level college markets or into NFL/NBA player props, where allowed. Cross-state betting is illegal — you must be physically located in a state where a market is legal at the time of bet placement.
For our take on building a sustainable college betting process under the new rules, see our line shopping guide and college football betting hub.
What to watch
The NCAA is pushing for a federal solution — a uniform college-prop prohibition under any future federal sports betting framework. Texas and California, both potential 2027 launches, are likely to incorporate college-prop restrictions into their initial regulatory packages. By end of 2026, expect 15-17 states to restrict college player props.
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