MLBPA Proposes Ban on Individual Player Prop Bets Amid Ongoing Labor Talks

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) has proposed eliminating individual player prop bets as part of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with MLB, according to ESPN.

The proposal is aimed at reducing harassment directed at players by bettors and addressing growing concerns about the impact of sports wagering on athletes.

Under the union’s proposal, all proposition bets tied to individual player performances before or during games would be prohibited. The MLBPA is also seeking a joint effort with MLB to lobby state regulators to prohibit sportsbooks from offering player-specific prop bets, event contracts offered by prediction markets, and similar products offered through daily fantasy sports operators.

The proposal comes as legalized sports betting continues to expand across the United States, with player props becoming one of the fastest-growing and most profitable wagering categories for sportsbooks.

Why the MLBPA Wants Change

According to ESPN, the union believes individual player prop bets have contributed to an increase in abusive messages and threats from disgruntled bettors following games. Because these wagers focus on a single player’s statistical performance, such as strikeouts, hits, home runs or stolen bases, players often become direct targets when bets lose.

The issue has become increasingly prominent across professional and collegiate sports. Several leagues and governing bodies have publicly raised concerns about the connection between legalized wagering and online harassment of athletes, officials and coaches.

The MLBPA’s proposal would not eliminate traditional game betting such as moneylines, run lines or totals. Instead, it focuses specifically on wagers tied to the statistical performance of individual players.

Potential Impact on Sportsbooks

A ban would significantly affect sportsbook operators, as player props account for a substantial portion of baseball betting volume. Industry estimates cited by ESPN indicate player proposition wagers can represent between 20% and 30% of the total handle on many MLB games.

Many sportsbooks prominently feature player props as part of their daily MLB offerings. If regulators ultimately adopted the proposal, operators would likely shift greater emphasis toward traditional game markets, futures betting, same-game parlays built around team outcomes, and alternative betting products.

Broader Betting Debate Continues

The proposal arrives as gambling-related integrity issues remain a major topic throughout professional sports. MLB has increased its enforcement of gambling policies in recent years while continuing to expand partnerships with regulated sportsbook operators.

The request also extends beyond sportsbooks. According to ESPN, the MLBPA wants restrictions to apply to player-focused event contracts offered through prediction markets as well as player-based contests available on daily fantasy platforms.

Whether the proposal ultimately becomes part of the next collective bargaining agreement remains uncertain. Sportsbooks, prediction market operators and gaming regulators would all likely have significant input before any nationwide changes could take effect.

For now, individual player prop bets remain one of the most popular forms of baseball wagering. However, the MLBPA’s proposal represents one of the strongest pushes yet by a major professional sports union to limit a betting product that has become increasingly central to the modern sports betting industry.