119-hr1552

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1552 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1552

To prohibit proposition bets made with respect to the performance of a 
 student athlete, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 25, 2025

 Mr. Baumgartner introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To prohibit proposition bets made with respect to the performance of a 
 student athlete, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Responsible Oversight and 
Transparency and Ensuring Collegiate Trust for Student Athletes Act'' 
or the ``PROTECT Student Athletes Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) The practice of sports betting, including proposition 
 bets involving the performance of student athletes, constitutes 
 a substantial part of interstate commerce.

    (2) Sports betting activities are conducted across State 
 lines by various means, including online platforms and physical 
 betting establishments, that involve participants from multiple 
 States.

    (3) The economic impact of sports betting on 
 intercollegiate sports extends beyond State borders and affects 
 the national economy, including through revenue relating to 
 advertising, broadcasting rights, and other commercial 
 activities linked to intercollegiate sports.

    (4) Ensuring the welfare of student athletes is a national 
 concern and regulation of betting practices, particularly those 
 involving the performance of student athletes, is essential to 
 safeguard the integrity, well-being, and educational 
 environments of such athletes.

    (5) The Federal Government has the authority under the 
 Commerce Clause of the Constitution to regulate interstate 
 commerce and, given the interstate nature of sports betting, 
 Federal regulation is warranted to maintain consistent 
 standards and protect the interests of student athletes.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON PROP BETS INVOLVING STUDENT ATHLETES.

    (a) Prohibition.--No individual or entity engaged in the business 
of betting or wagering may accept any bet or wager that includes a 
covered prop bet.

    (b) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--

    (1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of 
 this section shall be treated as a violation of a regulation 
 under 

section 18

    (a)

    (1)
        (B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
 (15 U.S.C. 57a

    (a)

    (1)
        (B) ) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or 
 practices.

    (2) Powers of commission.--The Federal Trade Commission 
 shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same 
 means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as 
 though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade 
 Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into 
 and made a part of this section. Any person who violates this 
 section shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the 
 privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade 
 Commission Act.
            (c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Covered prop bet.--The term ``covered prop bet'' means 
 a bet or wager on the occurrence or non-occurrence, with 
 respect to an intercollegiate sporting event, of an action or 
 achievement by a student athlete that may or may not have a 
 direct bearing on the final result of any such sporting event.

    (2) Intercollegiate sporting event.--The term 
 ``intercollegiate sporting event'' means a sporting event 
 played at the collegiate level for which eligibility 
 requirements for participation by a student athlete are 
 established by a national association for the promotion or 
 regulation of college athletics.

    (3) Student athlete.--The term ``student athlete'' means an 
 individual who engages in any intercollegiate sporting event.
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