The Ohio Casino Control Commission recently floated the idea of banning from wagering in Ohio'sports bettors who harass collegiate athletes. West Virginia legislators have now taken the idea a step further, introducing a bill to allow its state lottery to ban bettors who harass any player, coach, or official.'
HB 3310, a bipartisan bill, was introduced by four members of the West Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday. The bill is pending action in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill contains the following language:
(i) A patron may be banned from sports betting pursuant to subsection (d) of this section if the commission determines that the patron has harassed or shown a harmful pattern of conduct directed at a sports official, coach or any participants of a sporting event.
West Virginia's legislative session lasts through March 11, giving legislators just over a month to pass the bill.'