From hecklers to death threats, professional and even amateur athletes, not to mention student-athletes, have been the target of people who have wagered on their performance and came up empty-handed.
Irate Bettors Who Lose Their Minds and Issue Threats Are Now Fair Game
Student-athletes are increasingly targeted by online abuse, with 12% of all social media vituperations targeting this specific group. Now, though, FanDuel is going to do something about holding gamblers responsible for anything they may say online that crosses lines and spills over into outright abuse.
In other words, FanDuel will suspend your account if you heckle professional athletes or start sending them death threats. The company is changing its rules and introducing a hard stance on betting-related abuse of athletes.
SVP of public policy and sustainability at FanDuel, Cory Fox, had this to say about the measure: “Many athletes are on social media, interacting with fans, and that has led to some really fun and entertaining experiences and bringing fans closer to the game, but it also allows fans to say, frankly, unacceptable things to athletes that are negative or harassing.”
FanDuel has stated that it may now, at its sole discretion, suspend or terminate a consumer’s account and/or exclude them from the services if it’s determined that an account holder poses a threat to the safety of participants in a sporting event, or “discover that you engaged in the harassment of a sports official, coach, or any participant in a sporting event.”
The NCAA has flagged issues, especially around big-time events, such as March Madness, that habitually draw one of the largest sports betting handles country-wide.
FanDuel Won’t Be the Only Company to Punish Abusers
FanDuel is unlikely to be the only company that is going to crack down on online hecklers and abusers, but social media does grant anonymity to users.
While some sports gamblers will certainly be suspended or even banned from using services, many will catch up and start issuing anonymous threats, possibly making it harder for law enforcement to determine the seriousness someone poses.
This, though, will not stop others, including DraftKings and Fanatics, BetMGM, and all prominent operators, from taking a harder look at who bets on their platform and whether they are allowed to issue death threats online and continue holding accounts with their services.
The American Gaming Association has also launched a campaign of its own – Keep Your Cool – encouraging gamblers to shun online insults and engaging in abusive behavior. In the meantime, the NCAA has engaged with law enforcement, as well as technology companies, in a bid to clamp down on abuse and bring those responsible to accountability. The NCAA has flagged this trend as early as 2024.