The five largest professional sports leagues in North America, along with their players’ associations, have united to request stricter regulations from gambling authorities against sports bettors who threaten or harass athletes and other personnel.

According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press (AP), the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Soccer (MLS), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), and their players’ associations have urged gambling regulators in 35 states and the District of Columbia to permanently revoke the betting privileges of individuals who threaten or harass professional or amateur athletes, coaches, officials, team members, or their families.

Seeking Permanent Betting Bans

The letter highlighted the increased threats from sports bettors towards personnel in the sports industry.

“While legal sports betting has provided fans with new ways to engage in their favorite sports, it has also led to negative consequences for players and other personnel involved in professional sports events,” the leagues and players’ associations stated, as per AP.

“We have seen individuals who lose bets directing threats and harassment towards players, coaches, and their families through social media and personal interactions.”

The letter mentioned that Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Wyoming have measures in place to exclude “bad actors” from legal sports betting.

Rising Threats Against Athletes

The leagues and players’ associations are advocating for consistent rules across regulated U.S. markets to address this issue. They have called for state-regulated sportsbooks to permanently revoke betting privileges for anyone found to have harassed or threatened violence against athletes, coaches, officials, team members, or their families.

There have been several recent instances of sports bettors abusing athletes.

Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets revealed that an upset bettor confronted him at church last February over a lost wager. Lance McCullers Jr., a pitcher for the Houston Astros, shared that he and his family received death threats on social media after a poor performance in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Players Speak Out Against Bettor Abuse

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito also discussed threats he and his girlfriend received after a challenging game last season.

“The situation is worsening with each passing day,” Giolito mentioned in a podcast in July 2025. “There are simple steps you can take, like going private on social media or blocking accounts, but these measures only go so far.”

FanDuel has implemented a public policy against athlete harassment, stating that they can take action, including suspending or banning accounts, when customers are identified as harassing athletes.