Online authority figures in tennis call for intervention from the gambling sector, citing ongoing online harassment concerns
Revamped Article:
Let's tackle the unholy union of gambling and online harassment that's been plaguing tennis players. The WTA (Women's Tennis Association) and ITF (International Tennis Federation) have sounded the alarm for betting firms to step up their game and fight against this issue.
A whopping 40% of the 8,000 abusive social media messages sent to players last year originated from frustrated gamblers, as per research published jointly by the WTA and ITF. This alarming data was provided by Signify Group, whose Threat Matrix technology is designed to sift out online harassment and has also been used in elite football arenas.
"Given the clear evidence shining a light on the link between frustrated gamblers and prolific online abuse and threats, we're calling for a constructive dialogue with the gambling industry to help tackle this nasty issue," a spokesperson for the WTA and ITF commented.
"Everyone - betting operators, social media platforms, governing bodies, players, and law enforcers - has a responsibility to turn the online world into a better, safer place. We hope the gambling industry takes our call for action to heart," the spokesperson added.
Recent headlines were made when Olympic champion sprinter Gabby Thomas was subjected to aggressive heckling at a Grand Slam Track meet by a man who later boasted on social media that he had tampered with her run, winning a bet. US betting platform FanDuel swiftly banned him.
British tennis star Katie Boulter, meanwhile, revealed this week that she had received messages that wished her cancer, urged her to buy "candles and a coffin for her entire family." As the world No3, Jessica Pegula, stated, "Online harassment is unacceptable, and no player should have to endure this."
"I welcome the work that the WTA and ITF are doing with Threat Matrix to identify and take action against the abusers, whose behavior is often tied to gambling," Pegula continued. "But it's not enough. It's time for the gambling industry and social media companies to take the problem head-on and protect all those who are facing these threats."
The WTA manages the elite women's professional tour, which includes all top-tier events outside the Grand Slams. On the other hand, the ITF is best known for organizing the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup but also runs lower-ranking World Tennis Tour events.
Signify's analysts verified around 8,000 posts or comments sent from 4,200 accounts between January and December 2024 as abusive, violent, or threatening. A total of 458 players were targeted with direct abuse or threats, although five players received 26% of all abuse identified.
Actionable Steps for Betting Companies
- Strengthen User Accountability: Implement stricter user registration policies and permanently ban abusive bettors who engage in or incite online harassment.
- Collaborate with Partners: Partner with social media companies to monitor and remove abusive content. Also, work with law enforcement to report and support investigation efforts.
- Promote Responsible Gambling: Launch educational campaigns to alert bettors about the consequences of harassment and offer resources for those struggling with gambling losses.
- Support Industry-wide Initiatives: Engage in dialogue with governing bodies like the WTA and ITF, and adopt best practices from other industries to combat online harassment.
- Invest in Technology: Utilize advanced monitoring tools to detect and mitigate abusive activity, cross-referencing betting accounts with social media activity.
- Transparency and Reporting: Regularly publish reports on abuse incidents and enforcement actions to address the issue transparently.
By implementing these strategies, betting companies can help reduce gambling-driven online harassment, creating a safer environment for athletes in the tennis community.
- Technology can be leveraged by betting companies to combat online harassment, as demonstrated by Signify Group's Threat Matrix technology, which has been successfully used in tennis and elite football arenas.
- To create a better and safer online environment, betting operators, social media platforms, governing bodies, players, and law enforcers should collaborate, and technology investment in advanced monitoring tools for detecting and mitigating abusive activity could be a crucial step.
