Each week throughout the year, Digital Wager Wire highlights the most significant events affecting the domestic and international sports betting and gaming industries, and this week is no exception. In a move that would have seismic repercussions in the gaming industry, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is calling for a ban on player props as part of its latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. If successful, mobile and retail sportsbooks, prediction markets, and daily fantasy sports platforms will not be allowed to offer the highly lucrative betting offerings.
A Major Change for Sports Betting
According to an ESPN report citing a union source, the MLBPA raised the idea of banning player props during CBA discussions as a joint initiative with Major League Baseball. The union believes removing player prop betting could help reduce online harassment and abuse that players frequently receive from disgruntled bettors.
However, sportsbooks and prediction markets won’t be keen on the idea, as player props currently account for an estimated 20% to 30% of the betting handle on a typical game. That is a significant number, and gaming industry pushback is a near certainty.|
Beyond player prop betting, the MLBPA is seeking several other gambling-related changes during CBA negotiations. The union wants players to be permitted to sign endorsement and sponsorship agreements with licensed sportsbooks and prediction market companies, which are currently prohibited.
The union has also proposed changes to MLB’s gambling discipline process. Under its plan, players serving suspensions for violating the league’s sports betting policy could complete a 15-day unpaid minor league rehabilitation assignment near the end of their suspension before returning to MLB competition.
Athlete Harassment Remains a Concern
The MLBPA’s proposal comes as athlete harassment related to sports betting continues to draw attention across professional and collegiate sports. Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene discussed the issue last year, saying that abusive messages criticizing his performance had become a routine part of playing in today’s betting environment.
In 2025, an overseas bettor reportedly directed threats at the family of Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. after a losing wager. Other players have also described constant harassment through social media, while one pitcher said an irate bettor even followed him home.
Since 2024, the NCAA has urged legal betting jurisdictions to eliminate prop bets on college players, arguing they contribute to harassment of student-athletes. That initiative, led by NCAA President Charlie Baker, who has been a vocal proponent of banning player props on collegiate athletes, has pleaded with state legislators to compel their licensed sportsbooks to remove them from their betting menus.
“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country, with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes and professional athletes getting harassed. The NCAA has been working with states to deal with these threats, and many are responding by banning college props bets,” Baker said in a statement over two years ago.
Separately, Fanatics Sportsbook announced a technology partnership with Integrity Compliance 360 and Signify Group, which is designed to identify and discipline customers who harass athletes through social media, including suspending or banning offending bettors.
Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, has invited his competitors to join the program and hold customers accountable for their harassment and bullying.
“We encourage other operators to join the initiative because there is no sports betting potential loss that should embolden a sports betting customer to threaten or harass an athlete online,” King added.
