Published on: June 26, 2026, 09:13h. 

Updated on: June 26, 2026, 09:13h.

• Fanatics Sportsbook introduces the Bad Actor Program in collaboration with IC360 and Signify Group to identify and investigate bettors who engage in harassment against athletes, coaches, and officials on social media.
• The initiative merges social media surveillance with sportsbook account restrictions, empowering Fanatics to suspend or permanently ban abusive users and provide evidence to law enforcement when necessary.
• This initiative comes in response to rising concerns about online abuse linked to gambling, with NCAA research revealing that sports betting accounted for 12% of flagged abusive social media posts during the 2024 season.

Fanatics Sportsbook is collaborating with Integrity Compliance 360 Inc. (IC360) and Signify Group to enhance monitoring, investigation, and reporting mechanisms to protect athletes and coaches against online abuse, threats, and harassment.

Innovative Approach to Tackle Online Harassment

The newly launched Bad Actor Program will utilize IC360’s collaboration with Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service to monitor a range of social media platforms for harmful content.

When abusive behavior is detected, targeting athletes, teams, and organizations via public social media channels, those responsible will be listed in IC360’s ProhiBet Bad Actor platform.

Much like IC360’s existing ProhiBet platform, designed to prevent prohibited wagers by athletes, trainers, and coaches, ProhiBet Bad Actor allows sportsbooks to deactivate betting accounts belonging to individuals who harass or threaten athletes and coaches.

Pioneering Initiative by Fanatics

Fanatics Sportsbook is the inaugural legal sports betting operator to join the Bad Actor program, set to launch ahead of the upcoming football season.

“This groundbreaking initiative will hold bettors accountable for any threats directed towards players, coaches, and officials, aligning with our core values at Fanatics—respect and empathy for those who play the games we cherish,” stated Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming.

“We urge other operators to consider joining this initiative since no potential losses from sports betting should prompt a customer to threaten or harass an athlete online.”

Rising Online Threats to Athletes and Coaches

The launch of this initiative follows a noticeable increase in gambling-related harassment towards athletes and coaches. An NCAA investigation into social media abuse in the 2024 season revealed that 12% of posts identified by an AI-based algorithm as abusive were linked to sports betting.

This concerning trend has impacted athletes and coaches from various leagues over the past two years.

Last year, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCuller Jr. discussed the necessity for enhanced security after his family received online death threats following a challenging game. ESPN reported that Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers noted that online abuse is a nightly occurrence for many players.

In 2024, Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff (currently the Detroit Pistons coach) revealed threats made against him by gamblers after his personal phone number was leaked, leading to disturbing messages about his residence and threats against his children.

Kiner-Falefa Receives Threats

In Toronto, following the Blue Jays’ loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series Game 7 last October, player Isiah Kiner-Falefa recounted scrolling through a barrage of hateful messages, including threats to injure him. The infielder was involved in a critical play that influenced the game’s outcome in favor of the Dodgers.

It is believed that many of the individuals behind these messages were discontented gamblers.

“It seems many lost money on last night’s game. Fans? Probably not. Degenerate gamblers? Most likely. It’s surreal that professional sports permit gambling advertisements and it has become so commonplace,” commented someone on Threads.

Fanatics Issues Warning to Abusive Bettors

Through Threat Matrix’s monitoring system, athletes and coaches are encouraged to report any abusive direct messages. Once reported, Signify will evaluate their severity, and if criminal behavior is detected, the team will pass documented evidence to law enforcement.

Fanatics Sportsbook will deactivate or permanently ban accounts found to be involved in abusive, threatening, or harassing behaviors, including comments within reply threads, reposts, and broader public discourse. The company will compile evidence-based reports and share names with other “like-minded legal sports betting operators,” as stated in a Fanatics announcement.

“The rise of threats and harassment in sports, both at venues and online, is alarming and undermines the integrity of the sports betting sector,” remarked Scott Sadin, Co-CEO of IC360. “Tackling these individuals using ProhiBet BA and Threat Matrix is essential in protecting athletes and stakeholders from serious, long-term consequences.”