Sports betting-related harassment continues to be a problem for professional baseball players, with a new MLB player poll showing how common these interactions have become. According to The Athletic, 81 of 100 MLB players surveyed said they have been confronted or contacted by a fan over a sports betting loss, with some reporting threats involving themselves and their families.
The responses collected by The Athletic show that the harassment comes in a variety of ways. Some players described routine direct messages on social media from bettors blaming them for missing their props. Others said the messages can become much more personal.
One American League pitcher said he receives 5-10 DMs after each outing, including complaints when he fails to reach a strikeout total. Another player said bettors have sent him Venmo requests asking to be reimbursed for money they lost in a wager.
More concerning examples involved threats against players and their families. One National League outfielder said he regularly receives messages such as “I hope you die” or threats directed at family members after bettors lose parlays. Another pitcher said the situation becomes especially troubling when someone includes his home address in a message.
Some players have responded by completely avoiding social media.
MLB has a league-wide policy prohibiting betting-related harassment directed at players and other personnel. Some teams have made that policy more visible, including the San Diego Padres, who highlighted a zero-tolerance policy at Petco Park covering offensive or betting-related harassment of players, employees, umpires, and fans.
The MLBPA has also proposed eliminating MLB player prop bets as part of negotiations for the league’s next collective bargaining agreement, citing player protection as one of the reasons for the proposal.
However, MLB and the MLBPA have not agreed to a player prop betting ban. For now, those wagers are still available at regulated sportsbooks, so the league is relying on fan-conduct policies to combat this issue.
Sportsbooks have an opportunity to help MLB and other leagues address bettor harassment by taking action against customers who threaten or abuse athletes. One example is Fanatics Sportsbook, which introduced a Bad Actor Program designed to identify users who harass players, coaches, and referees.
Under the program, Fanatics can investigate reported incidents and take action against customers based on the severity of their behavior. Potential consequences include warnings, account suspensions, and even permanent bans from the sportsbook.
Programs like this can help deter sports betting-related abuse. With the MLB player poll showing how frequently these interactions occur, similar policies across more sportsbooks act as another tool for dealing with this growing problem.
The issue could become more important as MLB and the MLBPA negotiate their next collective bargaining agreement. The union has already shown a willingness to consider changes to sports betting policy, including additional protections involving how players are used in sportsbook marketing.
However, it remains to be seen how aggressively the MLBPA will address bettor harassment or player prop betting in the final agreement. The current MLB collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026.
