"As Missouri launches sports betting Monday, people will be able to wager on how many points a particular athlete will score in a game - so long as it doesn't involve a Missouri college or university. The restriction on " proposition bets," though less sweeping than in some states, highlights an area of rising concern as legal sports betting spreads to its 39th state in a steady expansion since the Supreme Court cleared the way for it in 2018."
"All centered around the outcome of prop bets, a popular type of wager often focused on what individual players will do in a game - like achieving a certain number of strikeouts in baseball, racking up a certain amount of points and rebounds in basketball, or surpassing a particular passing yardage in football. For bettors, a lot can ride on one player, putting those athletes at risk of threats or enticements to rig their performance."
"Sports betting operators took in over $11 billion through the first three-quarters of this year, up more than 13% from the same span last year, according to the American Gaming Association, which represents the industry. Though national data is lacking about the prevalence of prop bets, they are "an increasingly popular way in which to provide for engagement for any type of fan," said Joe Maloney, the association's senior vice president of strategic communications."
Missouri begins legal sports betting with a rule barring proposition bets that involve athletes from Missouri colleges or universities while allowing other player-focused wagers. Prop bets often center on individual performance metrics such as points, rebounds, strikeouts, or passing yardage. Recent scandals have included alleged bribery of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, an NBA player accused of supplying inside information, and six college basketball players losing NCAA eligibility for purported performance manipulation. The American Gaming Association reports operators took in over $11 billion through the first three quarters of the year, and industry representatives say prop bets are an increasingly popular form of fan engagement.
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