Washington lawmakers have passed SB 6137, a bill that would allow wagering on college sports events involving Washington schools at tribal casinos, while keeping key restrictions on certain bet types.
In Massachusetts, a separate proposal would ban proposition bets and in-play betting, reflecting a tougher approach to sports betting when college students are involved in the process.
Washington bill SB 6137 expands college betting but keeps athlete prop limits
SB 6137 would permit wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a college located within Washington in tribal casinos. With a key distinction being that the bill would still prohibit wagering on the performance or nonperformance of an underage athlete enrolled at a Washington college.
Massachusetts proposal would ban prop bets and live betting
In Massachusetts, Sen. John Keenan’s proposed bill would ban prop bets and betting on live games, according to WBUR’s summary of the proposal and its recent committee vote.
WBUR reported the bill cleared an initial hurdle with a favorable committee vote and would next move through the legislative process.
States are narrowing the debate to which bet types belong in legal markets
Taken together, the two states show how the policy fight has shifted from legalization to limits, especially around bet types seen as higher-risk. Washington’s bill expands access to in-state college events but keeps athlete performance props out, while Massachusetts is weighing a broader ban on prop and in-play betting.
What happens next
SB 6137 has passed both chambers, according to the Senate bill report, and would take effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which it is passed.
In Massachusetts, the proposal remains in the legislative process following the committee step described by WBUR.
