Sports Bettors’ Harassment of NFL Players Ranges From Venmo Requests to Death Threats, Survey Finds
Abuse hurled at athletes by disgruntled bettors has become all too common. The Athletic offers a peek into just how common it is.
An anonymous poll of 75 NFL players highlights the backlash they often face from sports bettors. One offensive player surveyed by The Athletic said he received death threats after an underwhelming performance.
The dominant theme of the survey was the volume of abuse athletes endure, ranging from requests to be reimbursed for gambling losses to slurs to threats of murder.
Even an offensive lineman reported drawing criticism, saying he gets harassing messages “five times a season.”
Disgruntled bettors most often contact players through Instagram and X. When one player was in college, he received a flood of Venmo requests after his team lost the national championship game.
Most respondents said they never reply to bettors. One exception said he once sent back a screenshot of his salary.
How Many NFL Players Bet on Sports?
The poll (paywall) produced several notable findings regarding NFL players’ propensity to gamble or play fantasy sports:
- Only eight of the 75 players bet on other sports
- March Madness ranked as the most popular betting option among those who wager
- Just six players said they participate in fantasy football
While NFL rules prohibit players from betting on professional football, they are allowed to wager on other leagues. They just need to avoid betting at team facilities or while traveling for games.
The league does not bar players from joining season-long fantasy football leagues with friends, but daily fantasy contests remain prohibited.
A few players said uncertainty around the rules keeps them from participating, with one describing fantasy football as “too conflicting.”
Bills Floated in New York To Confront Abusive Bettors
Abuse tied to sports betting has increased with the expansion of legal gambling. Pro athletes are not the only targets. The NCAA regularly warns about threats directed at student-athletes.
An NCAA survey published in November showed that 36% of Division 1 men’s basketball players received some form of abuse from bettors at least once over the previous 12 months.
In New York this week, State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky reintroduced a bill, S7482A, that would allow the state to ban bettors who harass athletes, coaches, or officials.
Lawmakers advanced a companion bill out of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee by a 10-0 vote. The proposal now heads to a full Assembly vote.
Wyoming, West Virginia, and Ohio already allow regulators to ban bettors who engage in abusive behavior.
As legal sports betting continues to expand, lawmakers and leagues face growing pressure to address its unintended consequences. For NFL players, the survey suggests abuse has become part of the job.
Commissioner for a Day: ESPN’s David Purdum says he’d fix the harassment issue first
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