Lynnae Williams Journalist
Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioBetMGM updated its terms of service on Monday to explicitly ban harassment directed at athletes, coaches, and team or league personnel. Under the new guidelines, immediate account suspensions are now on the table for bettors who are found to have violated the policy by using harassing or abusive language toward sports participants.
While the sportsbook already reserved the right to suspend bettors for engaging in unlawful conduct, the updated terms aim to add clarity to BetMGM’s policies by outlining a specific, transparent framework designed to protect those on the field.
BetMGM is leaning into its role as a regulated operator to ensure that bad behavior has real-world consequences. Rhea Loney, BetMGM’s Chief Compliance Officer, emphasized that protecting the people behind the game is a prerequisite for a trustworthy industry.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to sports integrity — and that commitment extends to safeguarding athletes, coaches and league personnel,” Loney said. “Our legal, regulated environment enables us to identify misconduct, investigate reports, and take action when necessary. Any confirmed instance of harassment will result in decisive measures, including account suspension.”
Widespread Harassment Highlights Need for Reform
Since the 2018 repeal of the federal ban on sports betting, harassment from bettors has become a real problem for professional and collegiate athletes alike. A recent survey by The Athletic of 84 NFL players revealed a troubling trend: 70% reported that fans had contacted or confronted them after losing money on sports bets or fantasy football.
Most of these interactions took place on social media, with bettors directing slurs and even death threats toward players after blaming them for losing bets. For some fans, it didn’t even matter much whether the player’s performance had a direct impact on the wager or not; they still took the loss out on individual athletes.
NFL legend and BetMGM ambassador Barry Sanders voiced his support for the crackdown, pointing to the personal toll such behavior can take. “As a professional athlete, I know how important respect is — both on and off the field,” Sanders said. “BetMGM is sending a strong message that harassment has no place in sports or sports betting. I’m proud to see BetMGM protecting athletes and promoting integrity.”
New York Bill Proposes ‘Prohibited Bettor’ Status
Lawmakers have taken notice of the harassment that athletes and other sports participants have faced from bettors and are now looking to codify consequences for that behavior. Most recently, state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D) in New York introduced Senate Bill S07482, which would create a formal category for prohibited sports bettors.
If passed, the legislation would give the New York State Gaming Commission the authority to ban any individual found to have engaged in a “harmful pattern of conduct” toward amateur or professional athletes, coaches, or officials.
A wide range of abusive behaviors would be prohibited under the proposed bill, including electronic threats, lewd statements, vandalism, and nonconsensual physical contact. The bill specifically goes after behavior that the bettor knew or should have known would cause a reasonable person to “suffer substantial emotional distress” or “fear for their safety.”
New York’s legislative effort follows the lead of states like Ohio, West Virginia, and Wyoming, which have already established involuntary exclusion lists to block harassers from licensed sportsbooks.
