Hailey
Missouri has officially launched legal sports betting, and many people in the state are excited to finally place bets from home. But the launch also comes at a time when several major sports scandals are making headlines across the country.
These recent cases are raising new questions about fairness, player safety, and how betting can affect the integrity of sports. Because of these concerns, Missouri has placed a special restriction: people cannot place prop bets on Missouri college players.
Prop bets are wagers based on the performance of a single player, and they have become one of the most talked-about parts of sports betting today.
Rising Worries About Prop Bets
Prop bets may sound simple, but they can create big problems. In the past few weeks alone, several major scandals have been linked to prop bets. Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were accused of taking bribes to purposely throw certain pitches.
An NBA player was arrested for allegedly sharing inside information to help gamblers. Six men’s college basketball players were banned from NCAA games after being accused of adjusting their performance during matches.
All these cases were tied to prop bets. When a single player’s action can decide a bet, that player becomes vulnerable to pressure, threats, or offers of money from those trying to control the result. This is why prop bets are now under major scrutiny.
Prop Bets Are Growing Fast
Since 2018, when the Supreme Court allowed legal sports betting, the industry has spread quickly. Missouri has become the 39th state to legalize it.
Across the United States, the sports betting industry earned more than $11 billion in the first nine months of this year, a big increase from previous years.
Although there is no complete national record, data from West Virginia shows that more than half of all bets placed on one major platform came from prop bets. Many of these bets were tied to parlays, which combine two or more bets. Parlays bring bigger payouts, but also higher risk.
Types of Sports Bets
Below is a simple table explaining the types of bets and their risk levels.
| Type of Bet | Meaning | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Prop Bet | Bet on a single player’s performance | High |
| Parlay | One bet made of multiple combined bets | Very High |
| Regular Bet | Bet on which team wins the game | Medium |
No Unified National Rules
Across the United States, rules for prop bets are very different. All states that allow sports betting permit prop bets on professional players. But when it comes to college athletes, the rules vary. Some states allow all prop bets, some ban them completely, and some only restrict certain cases.
Missouri has chosen the middle road: they allow prop bets, but not on Missouri college teams. The restriction was added to the sports betting amendment approved by voters last year.
Supporters say this rule helps protect young athletes and prevents people from using illegal platforms. Critics say the rule may have limited impact because people can easily place these bets online in other states.
How Missouri Plans to Stop Cheating
The Missouri Gaming Commission currently has three employees working specifically on sports betting regulation, and they plan to hire a fourth. Most of the real monitoring, however, is done through cooperation between sportsbooks, sports leagues, and law enforcement.
After the scandal involving the baseball pitchers, Major League Baseball placed a new limit: bets on single pitches cannot be more than $200 and cannot be part of parlays. Industry leaders say this shows that regulators are trying to respond quickly to potential risks.
Missouri Fans Are Excited
Even with the concerns, many Missourians have been waiting for this moment. Before sports betting became legal in the state, people often drove to Illinois or Kansas to place bets from their smartphones. Now they can do it without leaving home.
One excited bettor from St. Louis said he is thrilled to finally stop making long drives just to place a wager.
Missouri’s launch of legal sports betting marks a major milestone, but it also comes during a time of rising scandals and serious questions about prop bets. By placing limits on college prop bets, the state hopes to protect fairness and reduce the risks for young athletes.
As betting becomes easier and more popular, Missouri will need strong oversight, clear rules, and responsible practices to make sure the system stays safe for everyone.