Athletes being mistreated by gamblers on FanDuel facing potential exclusion
In a significant move to combat the growing issue of online abuse targeted at athletes, particularly female players in tennis, FanDuel has taken a firm stance against such behavior. The US-based online sports betting platform, which is the official betting partner of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), has introduced a new policy that bans customers who engage in harassment.
The decision comes in the wake of several disturbing incidents, such as the case of British women's tennis number two Katie Boulter, who received death threats from disgruntled gamblers during the French Open. Another social media user even threatened to damage Boulter's grandmother's grave if she didn't die by a certain date.
FanDuel's new policy is a clear condemnation of such abusive behavior. In a statement, the company emphasized that it "condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes" and will bar individuals who engage in harassment from using their sportsbook services.
The move by FanDuel follows a trend within the gambling industry to take action against betting-related abuse in tennis. Many gambling operators have responded positively to the idea of taking action, recognizing that threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sport or betting platforms.
Industry-wide, the issue of anger-fueled athlete abuse linked to gambling is recognized. A recent survey found that about 21% of sports bettors admitted to verbally abusing athletes online or in person. This highlights the scale of the problem and why operators like FanDuel must take firm measures to protect athletes. Some bettors who threaten athletes may face criminal charges or lifetime bans from sportsbooks.
Tournament organizers have also taken steps to combat online abuse. Offenders have been reported to the police and banned from buying tickets to Grand Slam, WTA, and ATP events.
The WTA and International Tennis Federation (ITF) are holding talks with the gambling industry to follow FanDuel's lead in combating online abuse. The organizations are pushing for the gambling industry to do more as part of a collective effort to rid tennis of such abuse.
The Guardian reports that these conversations are progressing positively, with the gambling industry showing a willingness to work together to address the issue. The WTA and ITF are hoping that this collaboration will lead to a safer, more respectful environment around sports betting.
In addition to FanDuel, the Signify Group developed an AI-led detection system that was used to identify more than 8,000 abusive posts from 4,200 accounts in 2023. The system is expected to continue playing a crucial role in identifying and combating online abuse in sports.
As the issue of online abuse in sports continues to grow, it is clear that a collaborative effort between sports organizations, betting companies, and law enforcement is necessary to tackle the problem effectively. FanDuel's new policy is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that other companies in the industry will follow suit.
- FanDuel, as the official betting partner of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), has introduced a new policy to ban customers who engage in online harassment.
- The move by FanDuel against athlete abuse follows a trend within the gambling industry, with many operators recognizing the issue of anger-fueled athlete abuse linked to gambling and taking action.
- Industry-wide, the WTA and International Tennis Federation (ITF) are pushing for the gambling industry to do more to combat online abuse, hoping for a safer, more respectful environment around sports betting.
- In the wake of several disturbing incidents, FanDuel's new policy against abusive behavior is a clear condemnation of such behavior, and it is hoped that other companies in the industry will follow suit in addressing the growing issue of online abuse in sports.
