Matt Fitzpatrick, a popular golfer, has become the latest prominent athlete to say it loud and clear – sports gamblers can get nasty if they think they have a chance to win a wager, or that an athlete has “failed” their wager, resorting to abuse, threats, and the old-fashioned heckling.
Heckling Remains a Problem with Prominent Golfers Experiencing It as Well
Fitzpatrick has noted that there has been an increasing number of athlete-related abuse within the golf community, with heckling and social media bullying a fairly new phenomenon in the sport.
Speaking from experience, Fitzpatrick said that as recently as the Players Championship in March, he was actively booed by US crowds who were rooting for Cameron Young, his most serious opponent at the time.
Fitzpatrick affirmed that many of the current issues were directly tied to the growth of gambling.
“It’s a great question because you just look at all the messages people get,” Fitzpatrick began, “footballers, tennis players, you name it, everyone’s getting messages of, ‘Oh, you missed that penalty – you cost me this. Oh, you didn’t make a birdie – cost me this.”
Fitzpatrick confirmed that he has been receiving abuse and that he believed that every golfer who’s played in a professional tournament has as well. Fitzpatrick explains that the behavior is baffling to him, arguing that he too has money on sports events.
For example, he has bet $20 on England winning the World Cup, but failing to do so, Fitzpatrick argues he won’t be harassing Harry Kane online and sending him threatening DMs.
Gamblers Get Angry Because They Expect to Win Money
The issue that Fitzpatrick talks about is a well-documented one in the sports community, with a growing number of athletes across multiple sports raising alarm, and some law enforcement and sports leagues responding.
Private betting companies, for example, are now looking to crack down on abusive bettors, suspending their accounts, notifying competitors and escalating the matter to law enforcement – as well as providing evidence that can be used in proceedings against those individuals engaging in the practice.
The issue may also rest in the fact that many people – around 70% of all sports bettors in the United States are actually betting to win money, even though the activity is explicitly considered for entertainment purposes only.