The West Virginia Legislature is continuing to move forward with a self-exclusion sports betting measure.
House Bill 4700 has been passed out of the West Virginia House as a piece of legislation that aims to ban sports betting for a person who “has harassed or shown a harmful pattern of conduct directed at a sports official, coach or any participants of a sporting event.”
The bill passed out of the House on Feb. 28, which was the state’s crossover deadline. Earlier this month, it received approval by West Virginia’s House Judiciary Committee.
HB 4700, introduced by state Delegate Shawn Fluharty in January, adds to the existing West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act, which was signed into law in 2018.
The bill resembles legislation in Ohio that was implemented as part of the state’s budget bill in 2023. The Buckeye State authorized a bill to protect athletic participants following threats against the men’s basketball program at the University of Dayton.
NCAA President Charlie Baker also mentioned the impact of gambling-related harassment against other college athletes during his first State of College Sports address last month. As a result, the NCAA has partnered with Signify Group to analyze online messaging directed at athletes. It will also be collaborating with the NFL on educational tools.
HB 4700 may face an uphill battle to be passed out of the Senate due to time constraints. West Virginia’s current 60-day legislative session ends on March 9 giving Senate members less than 10 days to decide the fate of the measure.
