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Fair Pay To Play Act

Fair Pay To Play Act Signed Into Law In California

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  • Collegiate players in the state of California will now be given the opportunity to be paid for legal deals they make off-campus without repercussions.
  • The Fair Pay to Play Act has officially been signed in the state.
  • Other states will need to look at similar options for their schools to create a level playing ground for all athletes at the collegiate level.

LOS ANGELES – The Fair Pay to Play Act was signed into law in California by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday.

The law will not be enforced until January 2023. College athletes in the state will now be allowed to hire agents and seek outside endorsement deals for money. Some schools in California, as well as the NCAA itself, were not behind the idea of this bill being passed into law because now it separates athletes playing in the state of California from the rules the rest of the country’s college players must abide by. The Governor of California believes otherwise.

"Signing the bill is going to initiate dozens of other states to introduce similar legislation," said Newsom. "And it’s going to change college sports for the better by having now the interests, finally, of the athletes, on par with the interests of the institutions. Now we’re rebalancing that power arrangement."

NBA star Lebron James who was an advocate throughout the entire process to push this bill to the forefront couldn’t be happier that Newsom has made it a reality. The Fair Play to Pat Act, also known as CA SB 206, gives college athletes in the state of California the ability to make money off of their name and likeness through endorsements and sponsorships without getting penalized by their schools.

“I’m so incredibly proud to share this moment with all of you. @gavinnewsom came to The Shop to do something that will change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it! @uninterrupted hosted the formal signing for SB 206 allowing college athletes to responsibly get paid,” tweeted James.

Newsom believes that colleges make so much money through their sports programs that it’s only fair that the players that make up those teams be awarded the same courtesy. It is a well-known fact that much of what a university makes outside of tuition is due to their sports teams and little else.

“Colleges reap billions from student-athletes but block them from earning a single dollar. That’s a bankrupt model. I just signed the Fair Play to Pay Act with @KingJames -- making CA the first state to allow student-athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness,” tweeted Newsom.

With the signing of the Fair Pay to Play Act, it is the belief that other states will follow suit to make it fair for all schools. Other colleges in the Pac-12 believe they will need to offer their players the same courtesy as they are in a division with California schools.

"I would think that they would have to give it to the [entire] Pac-12," said Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards. "You would hope it's not just the state of California with that policy."

A New Era Of Sports Betting Recognition

Not only will this new law make waves throughout NCAA teams countrywide, but it will also give the colleges in California another advantage that no one has thought about; sports betting.

With their athletes in the spotlight more due to what the law allows, sports bettors will be more inclined not only to wager on these players but on their teams as well. USA sportsbooks will be highlighting the state’s teams and players more as they will be what’s popular from a public perspective.

Something will need to be done before 2023 in terms of other colleges in the country passing laws that are similar to the Fair Pay to Play Act. If not, California and its sports teams could be perceived to have an unfair advantage. Not only will their players be compensated for outside work, but being allowed to do so will make athletes want to play for schools in CA more than any other school nationwide. In order for it to be fair play, it is something that should be considered for all college athletes if fairness is really what the entire law is about.