Congress is taking a closer look at sports betting on college campuses. A House subcommittee has scheduled a Nov. 11 hearing to examine the issue. This comes as colleges and athletic organizations deal with concerns about student gambling and the treatment of college athletes. The hearing allows lawmakers to examine how gambling is affecting campus life and whether colleges have the resources to respond.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce announced the hearing on November 5. Titled “The Rise of Sports Gambling on College Campuses,” it is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, at 10:15 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, will lead the session. The committee will also provide a livestream for the public.
The announcement did not detail the questions that will be addressed in the hearing. That means it’s unclear what topics will be addressed, but it’s likely it will focus on problem gambling, betting advertisements, and potentially athlete harassment.
Some colleges are already taking action in addressing the issue of problem gambling among students. The University of Mississippi recently opened a center studying student gambling, with research, education, and prevention among its priorities.
That work could provide a useful example if lawmakers turn their attention to what colleges are doing to address gambling harm. The hearing may also raise questions about the resources available to students who need support.
College athletes face another problem: abuse from people who lose money betting on their games. Players can receive threatening or hostile messages due to losing bets.
The NCAA recently joined a program addressing bettor harassment, working with Fanatics on an initiative that could lead to betting restrictions for people who threaten athletes. Known as the Bad Actor program, it aims to impose consequences on individuals who harass athletes. The goal is for it to deter this type of behavior.
The NCAA has also advocated limits on individual college player prop bets, arguing that wagers tied to a single athlete’s performance can increase pressure and harassment. This could be another issue discussed in the upcoming congressional hearing.
The hearing is an opportunity for lawmakers to gather information, with a chance that it could eventually lead to changes in policies around college sports betting. However, it’s too early to know whether Congress will take further action.
Any potential policy changes will depend on the testimony and the concerns raised by committee members. Lawmakers could explore additional safeguards for students and stronger protections for college athletes.
Overall, the hearing signals more interest in how sports betting is affecting college campuses. With the NCAA and universities already taking steps to address these concerns, it will be interesting to see whether Congress decides to get more involved.
