The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing athlete harassment related to sports betting. The regulator announced its “Bet on Respect” campaign on Aug. 31, outlining new measures that could result in bettors being excluded from sportsbooks and casinos if they are found to have harassed athletes.
Under the new initiative, the MGC can investigate reports of athlete harassment and potentially place offenders on Massachusetts’ involuntary exclusion list. That would prevent those individuals from legally wagering at sportsbooks or entering casinos in the state.
The regulator has also created a reporting portal for athletes, leagues, players’ associations, college athletic departments, sports venues, and other organizations to submit complaints. Reports can cover harassment that occurs online or in person.
In a public statement, MGC Chair Jordan Maynard said normal cheering and jeering is part of sports, but emphasized that “sports wagering is an activity for adults, and adults should know better than to cross the line into harassment.” He added that athletes, officials, and others involved in sporting events should be able to compete without intimidation.
The campaign is backed by several major sports teams and betting operators, including the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New England Patriots, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, and Fanatics Sportsbook.
As part of the broader effort, the MGC is also promoting responsible gambling resources and public education around the impact that betting-related abuse can have on athletes. With this initiative, Massachusetts is establishing itself as an industry leader in protecting against sports betting abuse toward athletes.
The MGC’s initiative comes as sportsbooks and other industry stakeholders take stronger action against bettors who verbally abuse athletes. In June, Fanatics Sportsbook launched its Bad Actor Program, which can suspend or permanently close the accounts of customers found to have harassed or threatened athletes, coaches, or officials.
Fanatics developed the program with IC360 and Signify Group, using social media monitoring and evidence-based reports to identify abusive users. Information on offenders can also be shared with other participating sportsbooks, creating the possibility that a bettor could face restrictions across multiple operators rather than just one account.
Massachusetts is taking a similar concept to the regulatory level. The MGC can use the state’s involuntary exclusion process to block someone found responsible for athlete harassment from accessing legal sports wagering and casinos throughout Massachusetts. Fanatics is also among the operators supporting the MGC’s Bet on Respect initiative.
A recent survey of MLB players found that 81 of 100 respondents had been confronted or contacted by a disgruntled bettor over the outcome of a game or individual performance.
The incidents ranged from angry messages about lost player props and parlays to more serious threats involving players and their families. Some players said the volume of abuse has caused them to limit or completely avoid social media.
The results help illustrate the type of behavior Massachusetts is attempting to address with its Bet on Respect initiative. While leagues and sportsbooks already have policies that can punish abusive fans or customers, the MGC’s approach adds another potential consequence by allowing regulators to exclude offenders from legal gambling throughout the state.
