Five of the largest professional sports leagues in the United States and their respective players associations have jointly called on state gaming regulators to adopt stronger measures against sports bettors who harass or threaten athletes, coaches, officials, and their families.
In a letter (pdf) dated September 15 and sent to gaming regulators across the country, representatives of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association, Major League Soccer (MLS) and the MLSPA, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association, the National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association, and the National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHLPA urged authorities to establish consistent rules that would permanently remove abusive bettors from regulated wagering markets.
The organizations argued that the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting has been accompanied by a rise in threatening behavior directed at participants in professional sports. “Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line,” the organizations said in the letter, according to SBC Americas.
The groups described athlete abuse linked to betting losses as an increasing concern and called for coordinated action among regulators, sportsbook operators, and law enforcement agencies.
Leagues Outline Three Key Regulatory Measures
The letter sets out several policy recommendations designed to create a more uniform response to betting-related harassment.
Among the most significant proposals is a requirement that regulated sportsbooks permanently revoke betting privileges for anyone verified to have threatened or abusively harassed athletes, coaches, officials, team personnel, or their family members. The request would apply to both professional and amateur sports participants.
The leagues and players associations also want regulators to establish a standardized reporting process that would allow sports organizations to submit verified evidence of threats directly to gaming authorities and law enforcement agencies. Under the proposal, individuals could then be added to statewide exclusion lists that prevent access to licensed betting platforms.
In addition, the organizations are seeking reciprocal recognition of exclusion decisions across jurisdictions.
A third recommendation focuses on sportsbook accountability. The groups urged regulators to make gaming licenses contingent upon operators actively identifying, monitoring, and banning accounts connected to abusive conduct.
“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,” reads the letter. “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.”
Existing Programs Offer Models for Broader Adoption
The letter acknowledges that some states have already introduced exclusion mechanisms and reporting tools intended to address misconduct by sports bettors.
Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Wyoming were highlighted as examples of jurisdictions with exclusion processes that can prohibit certain individuals from accessing licensed sportsbooks and mobile betting applications. Several states have also adopted measures specifically targeting threatening behavior connected to sports wagering.
Massachusetts recently introduced the “Bet on Respect” initiative, which allows athletes, leagues, and members of the public to report suspected harassment. The program received backing from major operators including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel.
West Virginia enacted legislation in 2024 allowing sanctions against individuals who engage in abusive behavior, while Ohio implemented similar protections in 2023. Louisiana also introduced exclusion measures that took effect this year.
Sportsbooks themselves have begun introducing policies aimed at addressing the issue. BetMGM revised its terms of service earlier this year to include provisions covering harassment directed at athletes, coaches, and officials, allowing for account suspension or termination.
Fanatics partnered with Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and Signify Group to launch the Bad Actor Program, which monitors online threats and shares information among participating operators. The initiative also facilitates referrals to law enforcement when appropriate.
FanDuel has also taken enforcement action, including banning a bettor who harassed Olympic champion Gabby Thomas during a Grand Slam Track event.
Betting Growth Brings New Challenges
The leagues linked the increase in harassment to the growth of the legal sports betting market following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that struck down key provisions of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The ruling allowed states to establish their own sports wagering frameworks, leading to the expansion of licensed sportsbooks and mobile betting platforms nationwide.
Athletes across multiple sports have publicly discussed receiving abusive messages from frustrated bettors, particularly in connection with player-proposition wagers that depend on individual performances. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito previously warned that the situation could escalate further if stronger protections are not implemented.
The leagues and unions concluded their appeal by emphasizing that participant safety should remain the primary concern as regulated betting continues to expand.
“The safety and well-being of players, coaches, officials and their families must always come before a wager,” the letter continued. “As game participants do their utmost to protect integrity, abusive and violent threats should not serve as a deterrence from performing to their fullest.”