Sports betting platform Fanduel takes firm action against users who engage in harassment of athletes, issuing permanent bans to repeat offenders.
In the rapidly evolving world of sports betting, several prominent companies are taking action against abusive users who target athletes on social media platforms. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the impact of online abuse on the safety and well-being of athletes, coaches, and sports officials.
FanDuel, a leading player in the industry, has taken a hard stance on betting-related abuse. The company has recently suspended or terminated accounts of bettors who have harassed athletes, including those issuing death threats or abusive messages. FanDuel's measures include changing terms of service to suspend or ban users who harass or threaten athletes or sports officials, implementing AI tools to detect abusive messages, and working closely with organizations such as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), where they are an official betting partner.
Other companies, including DraftKings, Fanatics, BetMGM, and prominent operators, are also expected to take a harder look at who bets on their platforms and address abusive behavior. The NCAA, which first flagged this trend as a concern as early as 2024, has engaged with law enforcement and technology companies in an effort to clamp down on online abuse related to sports betting.
Anonymous threats, which are increasingly common due to the ubiquity of social media and online platforms, pose a significant challenge in enforcing penalties. However, FanDuel seeks to hold bettors accountable by monitoring and penalizing abusive behavior linked to their accounts, even when these threats occur via social channels.
The NCAA has launched campaigns like the "Don't Be a Loser" initiative to reduce harassment of student-athletes during major events like March Madness. The Women’s Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation have highlighted extensive gambling-related abuse, particularly toward female players. The industry at large recognizes the link between increased legalized gambling and rising athlete abuse on social media platforms, although specific gambling companies apart from FanDuel have not been explicitly named as enforcing bans or suspensions for abuse.
The American Gaming Association has launched a campaign called "Keep Your Cool" to encourage gamblers to avoid online insults and abusive behavior. The policy change comes in response to increasing reports of online abuse directed at athletes. FanDuel is modifying its rules to have a hard stance on betting-related abuse of athletes, giving the company the discretion to exclude users from their services if they engage in such behavior.
This new approach represents a significant step in improving the safety and well-being of athletes and other participants in sporting events. While FanDuel stands out as the only major betting company that publicly enforces strict penalties on bettors for abuse on its platform, others are addressing the problem more through advocacy, reporting, and campaigns rather than direct user bans. The focus on big-time events, such as March Madness, underscores the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful environment for all involved in the world of sports betting.
- FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, BetMGM, and other prominent operators in the sports betting industry are scrutinizing their platforms more closely, aiming to address betting-related abuse of athletes as part of their ongoing efforts.
- Not only FanDuel, but also the NCAA, the Women’s Tennis Association, the International Tennis Federation, the American Gaming Association, and others have launched campaigns to discourage online insults and abusive behavior towards athletes, recognizing the need to maintain a positive and respectful environment in the sports-betting world.
