MLB players reportedly want individual prop bets banned. Could it happen?

Major League Baseball players are reportedly pushing back against one of the fastest-growing parts of the sports betting industry.

According to ESPN, the Major League Baseball Players Association has proposed banning individual player prop bets as part of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with Major League Baseball.

The proposal would apply not only to traditional sportsbooks but also to daily fantasy operators and prediction market products tied to individual player performances.

For bettors, the move raises an increasingly important question: could player props eventually disappear from some sports?

Why players want prop bets banned

According to ESPN, the MLBPA's primary concern is player harassment from disgruntled bettors following losses on individual player props.

Unlike team-based wagers, player props place the spotlight directly on individual athletes and their performances.

That has increasingly led to abuse on social media and through direct messages following games.

Professional leagues, player unions and regulators have all become more vocal about the issue recently.

The NCAA has already lobbied for restrictions on player props involving college athletes, while several states have introduced or considered bans on college player prop betting.

Player props have become a huge business

The challenge for sportsbooks is that MLB player props have become one of the industry's most important products.

According to sportsbook estimates cited by ESPN, prop bets can account for between 20% and 30% of the total amount wagered on a game.

Products such as home run props, strikeout totals and player performance markets have become central features of modern sports betting experiences.

The rise of same-game parlays has only accelerated that trend.

Many popular parlays combine multiple player outcomes rather than traditional game results.

Prediction markets are now part of the debate

The MLBPA proposal also reportedly targeted player-focused event contracts offered through prediction market platforms.

That is notable because prediction markets have increasingly expanded into sports-related products over the past two years.

Platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket now offer markets tied to games, tournaments and player outcomes, while new entrants continue entering the category.

The proposal suggests the debate around player protections may increasingly extend beyond sportsbooks and into prediction markets as well.

What bettors should understand

At this stage, the proposal remains part of collective bargaining discussions, and no immediate changes are expected.

However, the broader conversation around athlete harassment and player welfare is unlikely to disappear.

For bettors, the issue underscores the challenge regulators, leagues, and operators face as sports betting continues to evolve.

Player props have become one of the most popular and engaging betting products in the industry.

They have also become one of the most controversial.

As sports betting grows, expect debates around player protection, responsible gambling and athlete welfare to become increasingly common across both sportsbooks and prediction markets.