The legalization of sports betting continues to expand, and the dissatisfaction of bettors has led to increasingly common harassment of athletes. An anonymous survey of 75 NFL players revealed that they often face harassment ranging from demands for money to death threats due to their performance in games. This type of harassment is not exclusive to professional athletes; college athletes are also victims, and cases related to sports betting rights protection can be found on the PASA official website.
Current Harassment Situation: Severe and Widespread
The forms of harassment by bettors are diverse and more severe than one might imagine:
Types of Harassment: From demanding compensation for betting losses, sending insulting comments, to directly issuing death threats, an offensive player has received life-threatening threats due to poor performance;
Affected Groups: Even offensive linemen, who receive less attention, reported receiving harassment messages five times per season; a NCAA survey in November last year showed that 36% of Division 1 male basketball players had experienced at least one instance of bettor harassment in the past 12 months;
Communication Channels: Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) are the main platforms for sending harassment messages, and some players received numerous Venmo transfer requests for money after their team lost the national championship during college.
Player Responses and Personal Betting Situations
In the face of harassment and league rules, NFL players show clear attitudes and choices of action:
Response Methods: The vast majority of respondents stated they do not reply to harassment messages from bettors, with only one having sent back a screenshot of his salary as a response;
Betting Behavior: Only 8 out of 75 players bet on other sports, with "March Madness" being the most popular betting option;
Fantasy Sports Participation: Only 6 participate in season-long fantasy football, and daily fantasy sports are avoided due to league bans; some players choose to stay away due to vague rules, describing fantasy football as "too controversial";
League Rules: Players are prohibited from betting on professional football, but are allowed to bet on other league events, avoiding team facilities and travel periods; participation in season-long fantasy football with friends is not prohibited.
Legislative Response: Multiple States Take Action, New York Proposes Enhancements
To curb bettor harassment, several states in the U.S. have initiated regulatory measures, and a new proposal in New York State further strengthens restrictions:
Existing Regulations: Wyoming, West Virginia, and Ohio have allowed regulatory authorities to ban bettors who engage in harassment from participating in sports betting;
New York's New Proposal: State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky has resubmitted bill S7482A, proposing to authorize the state government to ban bettors who harass athletes, coaches, or referees; its companion bill has passed the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee with a 10-0 unanimous vote and is about to enter the full Assembly vote;
Legislative Background: As the scope of legal sports betting expands, these unintended consequences are becoming more prominent, and leagues and legislators are facing increasing pressure to address these issues through improved systems.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
