Wyoming Introduces New Measures to Punish Athlete Harassers
The Wyoming gaming regulatory body has strengthened its stance against athlete harassment by banning offenders from participating in regulated gaming activities in the state.
Head coach Craig Bohl leads the Wyoming Cowboys onto the field for their game against Utah State last season.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:On Friday, 22 November, the Wyoming Gaming Commission voted to add individuals found guilty of harassing athletes to the state’s involuntary exclusion list.
The commission’s ruling follows a thorough discussion about prohibiting prop bets on college athletes, which began four months ago.
During their July meeting, commissioners debated a potential ban on prop college bets, a move supported by the NCAA. However, they determined that the root of the problem is not the bets, but rather the harassment inflicted upon athletes, coaches, officials, and other individuals involved in sports.
At the meeting, Scott Ward, a lobbyist for the Sports Betting Alliance, cautioned that prohibiting prop bets could drive bettors to offshore platforms. Michael Steinberg, operations manager for the WGC, also added that while there is no disagreement that athlete harassment is a serious problem, the real question is whether banning prop bets will put an end to the anomaly.
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WGC Defines Harass and Imposes Penalties
As a solution, the WGC staff suggested amending the rules to clearly define harassment and outline consequences, including adding offenders to the involuntary exclusion list.
The list comprises individuals barred from betting in the state due to various reasons. Operators have access to this list, enabling them to reject bets from banned individuals.
With the development, Wyoming joins Ohio and Virginia as states with regulatory measures to hold harassers accountable through penalties.
The athlete harassment debate has been ongoing since last spring when the NCAA embarked on a nationwide campaign to urge states to prohibit college player prop bets. The initiative yielded results, as 13 states currently ban college athlete prop wagers in the US.
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