Wagers on touchdowns, strikeouts and even penalties: States eye limits on prop bets

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

NJ Assemblymember Dan Hutchison proposes banning live, play-by-play sports bets.

Prop bets linked to gambling addiction , financial distress, and potential bankruptcy.

NCAA and professional leagues support restrictions to protect athletes and game integrity.

Calls to problem gambling hotlines in NJ have surged nearly 300% since 2018.

As a bankruptcy attorney, New Jersey Assemblymember Dan Hutchison said he sees clients “all the time” whose betting on football and baseball quickly leads to missed car payments, delinquent mortgages and, ultimately, bankruptcy.

The rise of live, in-game bets — in which a gambler could place more than 200 individual bets during a baseball game if they wager on each pitch thrown — has only amplified his misgivings.

“And I’m like, are