NCAA Survey Reveals Harassment Spike Among College Athletes Due to Sports Betting
A recent survey conducted by the NCAA has highlighted a troubling trend: college athletes are increasingly facing harassment from sports bettors. The study found that female basketball players are particularly vulnerable, receiving three times more abusive messages than their male peers.
Impact of Legal Sports Betting
The legalization of sports betting has contributed to this rise in harassment. One in three high-profile college athletes report being targeted by bettors.
The survey indicates that 90% of these threats come through online platforms or social media, with 15%-25% directly linked to betting activities.
The survey covered around 1,000 athletes from Division I and II schools, along with 280 coaches and over 120 NCAA officials during March Madness.
Analysts reviewed over 54,000 flagged posts and comments, confirming 4,000 as abusive or threatening. Of these, 540 messages were directly related to sports betting, with a disproportionate number targeting female basketball players.
Broader Impact on Sports Community
Harassment isn’t limited to athletes. Coaches and game officials also face threats from disgruntled gamblers. Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach JB Bickerstaff shared his experience of receiving threatening calls due to his coaching decisions, which affected betting outcomes. Similarly, Dayton Men’s Basketball Head Coach Anthony Grant reported that his players received hate mail from angry bettors.
To combat this issue, Ohio has introduced laws that empower the commission to ban individuals who threaten athletes or coaches. Governor Mike DeWine has worked with the NCAA to eliminate proposition betting in college sports, reducing the pressure on athletes. This approach has been adopted by several other states, including Vermont, Maryland, and Louisiana.
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