As the annual US Sports Equinox approaches, a collaboration of major professional sports leagues unveiled a significant memo aimed at reducing harassment of athletes by frustrated sports bettors. With the popularity of sports betting soaring, the memo, dated September 15, was sent to 35 state gaming authorities by numerous top leagues along with their player unions. The leagues advocate for mandatory lifetime bans for individuals who engage in what they describe as "abusively harassing or issuing threats of violence" toward any professional athlete.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) are among the leagues that contributed to this initiative, which coincides with Texas Senator Ted Cruz's efforts to establish a federal framework for college athletics. Although the NCAA did not sign the letter, the memo also calls for states to implement bans against individuals threatening "amateur athletes," including coaches, officials, and team personnel.
The leagues articulated a clear message in their statement: "Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line, and it is entirely unacceptable."
The US Sports Equinox, a recently recognized event, takes place when NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB games are played on the same day. This year, the equinox is set for October 26, though Major League Soccer (MLS) will not be competing on that date.
The concern over athlete harassment intensified after high-profile incidents, such as the threats faced by former Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers from an exasperated bettor whose location was later found to be overseas. The rise in reported incidents of harassment follows the Supreme Court's 2018 decision to repeal PASPA, which has significantly increased sports betting across the country. Reports of harassment are seen as alarming and part of a troubling trend within the industry. A particularly notable case involved California bettor Benjamin "Parlay" Patz, who threatened members of the MLB's Tampa Bay Rays. Patz, accused of targeting over 300 accounts of professional and collegiate athletes, pleaded guilty in 2021 to transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce, receiving mental health treatment but no prison time.
The issue of harassment has gained traction even in legislative discussions. In December 2024, former Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin held a hearing on sports betting, citing a disturbing anecdote involving former North Carolina center Armando Bacot, who received an onslaught of threats on social media after a game, despite a commendable performance.
The topic was also addressed at the National Council of Legislators From Gaming States conference in July, where industry leaders discussed the root causes of athlete harassment.
In response to such alarming trends, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and others have acknowledged the need for collaborative measures to combat harassment. During a recent press conference at the NBA Summer League, Silver was questioned about the formation of a coalition to address insider trading and related issues. While he showed interest in participation, he also indicated support for establishing a federal oversight position focused on sports betting.
Stakeholders within regulated sportsbooks are working to mitigate harassment risks. Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, disclosed ongoing investments by his members to develop tools for identifying harmful individuals and sharing vital information with the leagues.
One of the proposals from the leagues includes creating a standardized cross-operator reporting platform that would allow for secure transmission of verified threats to state regulators. Maloney leads a significant association that encompasses major sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and bet365. He expressed support for collaborative efforts to combat harassment in sports.
The NFL, addressing similar concerns, referenced the idea of this reporting platform in comments submitted regarding prediction markets to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This drew attention during a Senate subcommittee hearing on the risks associated with prediction markets and potential harassment incidents.
Senator Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, has expressed confidence in passing the Protect College Sports Act, which aims to establish regulations surrounding student-athlete participation in prediction markets, without directly addressing player harassment.
In light of these developments, the willingness of professional sports league commissioners to testify before Congress about the challenges of sports betting remains uncertain, despite the release of the recent memo.
