The Indiana Gaming Commission has delayed a decision on whether to ban college athlete prop bets, leaving the wagers legal in the state for at least the opening weeks of the upcoming college football season. The move follows an NCAA request to eliminate markets it says contribute to harassment of student-athletes.
During its quarterly meeting in Indianapolis, the commission voted to table the proposal until its September session. The panel met without its chair and included two new members, with officials citing the need for further review of competing concerns from college athletics and the sports betting industry.
Regulators Seek More Time Before Final Ruling
Commission member B.R. Lane, appointed by Governor Mike Braun, said she needed additional study before deciding. With experience in lottery administration and gaming compliance, she said she would consult regulators in other states.
“We want a safe and prosperous ecosystem, and I don’t know yet how to do that, how to fairly balance compliance and commerce in this particular instance,” Lane said.
The commission’s next meeting is set for Sept. 24 in Indianapolis.
NCAA Raises Safety Concerns
The NCAA has urged states to ban prop bets tied to individual athletes, citing harassment risks. NCAA President Charlie Baker has prioritized the issue, and several states have already adopted restrictions.
Clint Hangebrauck of the NCAA said the organization has tracked thousands of threats linked to betting losses during tournaments.
“We’ve seen death threats, things that we have to report to law enforcement and add security to our events,” he said.
Indiana University, Purdue, and Butler supported the ban in letters to regulators. IU athletic director Scott Dolson said individual prop bets place athletes at risk.
“Sports betting has become ingrained in the sports landscape, but not all kinds of betting have the same impact,” Dolson wrote. “Bets tied to the performance of a single college athlete carry risks that are less pronounced in team-based betting, placing an individual student-athlete directly at the center of the action.”
He also warned athletes could be tempted to bet on themselves, risking eligibility.
Sportsbooks Oppose Ban
Sports betting representatives said they sympathize with concerns but oppose a ban. Former regulator Sara Tait argued harassment stems from social media rather than betting markets.
“As all my colleagues have said, we find this deplorable,” she said.
Tait urged an approach like Ohio’s, targeting individuals who threaten athletes instead of banning wagers.
FanDuel’s Louis Trombetta said enforcement should focus on lawbreaking behavior.
“The solution wasn’t to tell our sports betting operator that you can’t offer that bet,” Trombetta said. “It was, we need to support law enforcement to be able to respond to this activity, because it’s not a sports betting problem. It’s social media, and it’s a problem with the people who are making these threats.”
He also said allowing prop bets may help detect suspicious betting patterns.
Indiana will continue permitting college player prop bets until regulators revisit the issue in September.
Source:
“Indiana Gaming Commission Delays Decision on Banning College Player Prop Bets”, gamblinginsider.com, Jun 26, 2026
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