Pro Sports Leagues Call for More Action Against Harassment

US sports leagues are once again calling for help over sports betting.

League and players’ union representatives from MLB, MLS, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL joined together on Tuesday to send a letter to regulators in states with legal markets. In it, they proposed a lifetime ban for bettors who harass athletes, coaches, officials, and team employees. 

The ban would also cover the harassment of family or friends of those groups.

"Too often, individuals who lose sports bets direct threatening and harassing messages toward players, coaches, and their families via social media and in-person interactions," a copy of the league’s letter shared with ESPN states. "Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line, and it is entirely unacceptable."

The letter echoes the NCAA's calls, which have been sounding the alarm over a spike in harassment of college athletes. 

Currently, Louisiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wyoming are the only legal online sports betting states that issue lifetime bans to bettors found guilty of harassment.

DraftKings, Fanatics Step Up Their Efforts

Over the summer, IC360 partnered with Fanatics to implement a ProhiBet Bad Actors AI tool to help fight harassment from angry bettors. It not only helps investigate accusations but also allows sportsbooks to share data. The action shows why Fanatics Sportsbook reviews praise their focus on responsible gambling.

On the state side, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission launched a new “Bet on Respect” tool to curb harassment. It allows athletes, coaches, and officials to file harassment complaints for the regulator to review.

While momentum continues to build to end harassment from bettors, many US markets have yet to take concrete steps. 

The emergence of sports prediction markets apps also complicates the fight. The industry remains a direct rival of regulated US betting sites, with little love lost between the two sides. While both are motivated to crack down on harassment, working together will require a level of trust they don’t currently have.