Decrease in internet abuse linked to sports wagering observed during the 2023 March Madness NCAA tournament.
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Let's Talk Tourney Troubles
Indy Confidential
Hey there! Here's a lowdown on the online shenanigans that came along with the 2025 NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments.
INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA reported a decrease in online abuse related to sports betting during this year's NCAA basketball tournament—but that's not to say the problem's gone. The downward trend observed this year compared to the previous one saw a reduction of 23% in sports betting-related abuse, but still, over 3,000 threatening messages were hurled at those involved in the competition, according to the NCAA[1][2].
The NCAA enlisted the help of Signify Group to keep an eye on the digital dirt thrown at the athletes, coaches, game officials, selection committee members, and others decked out in tournament roles. Signify employed a combination of AI and human analysts to sift through the sludge and confirm the threats, before throwing them to the authorities if necessary[2].
It turns out that the men's tournament was the real hot spot for bad sportsmanship. Despite the uncharacteristic scarcity of upsets (with all four top buoys making it to the Final Four, and Florida snagging the national title), the overall rise in abusive statements leveled against people involved in the men's tournament skyrocketed by 140%—most of it being heaped on the selection committee and the coaches[2].
The good news? Sports betting-related abuse was down 36% in the men's tournament[2]. In the women's tournament, the game was a gentler one with overall abuse dropping 83%, and betting-related abuse sinking 66%. One Lady-Bullpup who faced the brunt of the mean tweets was Chandler Prater of Mississippi State, who incurred a season-ending knee injury during her guard-duty on Southern California star JuJu Watkins[1].
Prater and other student-athletes roughed up by the web were offered a lifeline by the NCAA and Signify; they received assistance in handling the barrage of abuse, as well as emotional and administrative support[2].
In an attempt to educate fans on being good sports, the NCAA launched a non-harassment public campaign called “Don’t be a loser.” The goal? To dissuade hostile behavior, promote respect, and remind folks of the importance of keeping it clean during the tournament—especially in the context of sports betting[3].
Charlie Baker, the NCAA's prez, made it clear that squashing online harassment is his top priority. According to Signify CEO Jonathan Hirshler, "we recorded a reduction in sports betting-related abuse and threats at the 2025 event" and anticipate even fewer instances of hostile behavior at future tourneys[3].
That's a wrap! Here's to hoping the online trash talking is a thing of the past—so players can keep ballin' and fans can cheer from the comfort of their couches without all the noise.
To Know More:
- The NCAA partnered with Signify Group for real-time monitoring of digital abuse during the tournament [2].
- Student-athletes facing abuse were provided support by the NCAA and Signify, including emotional and administrative assistance [2].
- The NCAA ran a public service campaign called "Don't be a loser" to discourage hostile behavior and promote respect among fans [3].
- The NCAA recognized the need for strong relationships with stakeholders, including social media platforms and regulatory bodies, to make progress against online abuse [3].
Source Citations:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, March 17). NCAA: Most March Madness abuse came in 3,000 threatening messages. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/sports-ncaa-basketball-college-basketball-indianapolis-apf-56f9fcacc3094519a3fb99981b65edcd
[2] Signify Group. (2025). NCAA March Madness Cybersecurity Report 2025. Retrieved from https://www.signifygroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NCAA-March-Madness-Cybersecurity-Report-2025.pdf
[3] NCAA. (2025). Don't be a Loser Campaign. Retrieved from https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/dont-be-loser-campaign
Despite the decrease in online abuse related to sports betting during the 2025 NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments, sports-betting-related threats and abusive messages still remained a concern, particularly in the men's tournament. To combat this, the NCAA partnered with Signify Group to monitor digital abuse in real-time, offering assistance and support to student-athletes who faced harassment. As part of the efforts to educate fans on good sportsmanship and discourage hostile behavior, the NCAA launched a public service campaign called "Don’t be a loser."
