The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is addressing athlete harassment by disgruntled bettors through a new statewide program that can exclude offenders from every licensed sportsbook and casino in the state.
Individual sportsbooks such as BetMGM and DraftKings already have the contractual authority to suspend or close customers’ accounts if those individuals are abusive toward athletes or coaches associated with the teams and sports they bet on.
Sportsbooks Bans Pose Limits
The MGC program, named Bet on Respect, ensures that the punishment is regulated, enforceable throughout the entire Massachusetts betting market, and subject to a formal investigation and appeal process.
Once on the exclusion list, the bettor cannot simply open an account with another sportsbook. Every regulated Massachusetts operator must adhere to the exclusion.
“Good-natured cheering and jeering are acceptable and expected at sporting events, but sports wagering is an activity for adults, and adults should refrain from harassment,” stated Jordan Maynard, Massachusetts Gaming Commission chair.
New Reporting Portal for Harassment Unveiled
“Athletes, officials, and other individuals associated with games being bet on deserve to be free of intimidation during and surrounding competition. While this tool will be impactful, we anticipate patrons will know right from wrong.”
The MGC has established a portal for leagues, players’ associations, college athletics programs, sports venues, or players themselves to report abuse. The commission will investigate, and the gamblers involved may face exclusion.
There is also an email address – [email protected].
College Athletes Confront Widespread Abuse
According to data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), student-athletes encounter significant online abuse and bullying – 51% of Division I men’s basketball student-athletes have experienced online abuse related to their athletic performance, with 46% attributing the abuse directly to gambling.
Bet on Respect has garnered support from various entities including the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Legacy FC, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, the NCAA, Bally Bet, BetMGM/MGM Springfield, Caesars, DraftKings, Encore Boston Harbor, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, and Penn Entertainment/Plainridge Park Casino.
Recent Events Highlight the Issue
Some recent incidents of athlete harassment by gamblers include Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), who disclosed last February that a gambler confronted him at church, alleging VanVleet cost him a $3,000 parlay.
In June 2025, in a highly publicized incident, a gambler followed Olympic champion Gabby Thomas at a track meet, heckling her before a race and claiming the abuse impacted Thomas and aided in his parlay win. Subsequently, FanDuel banned him.