
Sports betting is legal and growing more popular. Harassment of athletes by angry gamblers is rising too
Gabby Thomas being harassed at last weekend's Grand Slam Track meet was shocking – except, actually, it wasn't, given how often it seems to be happening.
Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said she was verbally abused at the meet, reporting on X that a 'grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults.'
Thomas' statement was in reply to another post on X – which has since been deleted – showing a video of a person heckling Thomas while she was on the starting line, shouting, 'You're a choke artist; you're going down, Gabby.'
The social media user bragged about how his actions had benefitted his bet, writing: 'I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win,' alongside a screenshot of two multi-leg bets on the FanDuel sportsbook platform.
FanDuel said it had banned the person responsible for the abuse from its platform, explaining it 'condemns in the strongest terms abusive behavior directed towards athletes.'
'Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports. This customer is no longer able to wager with FanDuel,' the statement shared with CNN Sports added.
It was in 2018 that the US Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law, which had prohibited most states from allowing sports betting.
Gambling on sports is now legal in 39 states, which experts warn has opened the floodgates for a torrent of abuse towards professional and collegiate leagues from bettors who blame them for their financial losses.
In March, the NCAA launched a campaign aimed at tackling what it described as 'the alarming prevalence of abuse and harassment student-athletes face from angry fans who lost a bet.'
According to an analysis of abusive messages sent via social media to college athletes, coaches and officials during the Division I championships, 12% – some 740 messages – were related to sports betting, according to the NCAA.
Instances of such messages included one user who threatened a college athlete with the message, 'Yo no big deal but if you don't get 22 points and 12 boards everyone you know and love will Be dead,' according to the analysis, which was produced with Signify Group.
Meanwhile, over 540 abusive betting-related messages – including death threats – were leveled at men's and women's basketball student-athletes and game officials during March Madness, a preliminary set of data trends found.
Clint Hangebrauck, managing director of enterprise risk management at the NCAA told CNN: 'I think athletes are under attack right now, frankly, on social media and in person, and a lot of the people slinging the biggest bullets are sports bettors.'
Hangebrauck, who has worked at the NCAA for 15 years, said that there has been a surge of athletes receiving abuse since the federal ban on sports betting was struck down, adding that in certain states – including Ohio and North Carolina – a barrage of abuse towards student athletes was 'almost immediate.'
The NCAA is now seeking a ban on proposition bets, colloquially known as prop bets, on college athletes, calling the phenomenon 'a mental health nightmare.' Prop bets are made on outcomes not associated with the final score and are often based on individual performances.
'You could even perform well, and you're receiving all this negative feedback from betters because you didn't hit specific betting lines,' Hangebrauck added, noting that about half of the states that do allow gambling in the US have banned prop bets on student athletes.
Jason Lopez, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin told CNN Sports: 'The way that the newly legalized sports betting universe works is that it's very common to make prop bets where, even though it's a team sport, you can actually bet on the performance of individual players.'
'It turns what could be a team game into an individual performance, too. And so it's easy to then focus whatever anger you have on the bet at individual players,' Lopez, whose research focuses on sports media and betting, explained.
The issue of bettors harassing athletes is widespread across sporting disciplines, with tennis and NBA players reporting instances of abuse.
For a few professional athletes, it's an opportunity to punch back. In reply to a social media user who gave him grief about his seeming nonchalance over a bad performance in a game, NBA superstar Kevin Durant posted on X in November 2024, 'Stop blaming me for losing money because you have a gambling problem.'
Great dub suns, and for my parlayers, better luck next time lol For others, however, social media comments made cross any acceptable line. In the past few weeks, MLB players Lance McCullers Jr. and Liam Hendriks have both reported that their families have been on the receiving end of death threats.
Houston Astros pitcher McCullers Jr. revealed he received threats from a man who took to social media and threatened to find his kids and 'murder them.'
The Houston Police Department later traced these threats to an intoxicated sports bettor from overseas who had lost money betting on the Astros' May 10 game against the Cincinnati Reds, per Reuters.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Hendriks reported similar abuse, telling MLB.com that 'with the rise of sports gambling, it's gotten a lot worse.'
'Threats against my life and my wife's life are horrible and cruel,' Hendriks wrote in a post on his Instagram Stories, according to MLB.com.
'You need help. Comments telling me to commit suicide and how you wish I died from cancer is disgusting and vile. Maybe you should take a step back and re-evaluate your life's purpose before hiding behind a screen attacking players and their families.
He added: 'Whether it be Venmo requests, whether it be people telling you in their comments, 'Hey, you blew my parlay. Go f*ck yourself,' kind of stuff. And then it's, 'Go hang yourself. You should kill yourself. I wish you died from cancer.'
'That one kind of hit a little too close to home for me with everything I've gone through,' Hendriks, who in 2023 announced he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, added.
Joe Maloney, senior vice president of strategic communications for the American Gaming Association, told CNN Sports in a statement: 'The outcome of a bet is never an invitation to harass or threaten athletes, coaches, or officials. Abuse of any kind has no place in sports.'
'The legal, regulated industry offers the transparency and accountability needed to identify bad actors and collaborate with leagues, regulators, and law enforcement to deter misconduct and enforce consequences. Unlike illegal and unregulated market apps or bookies, legal operators work every day to uphold the integrity of competition and ensure a responsible wagering environment,' Maloney added.
Lopez pointed out that, while sports betting has only recently been legalized and commercialized across the United States, most sports have been associated with wagering since their beginnings, albeit in a more underground capacity up until recently.
'There's just a basic fact about (sports) companies and organizations that run these games for entertainment which is that gambling helps increase interest – it drives interest. So they like all the betting that's happening around them; it builds interest in their sport.
'Their athletes being abused, especially if they're collegiate athletes, could harm their entertainment product. So they have to take very public stances about this in order to try to mitigate the idea that you know this entertainment product is putting people at risk,' he added.
Hangebrauck added to CNN: 'I think there's a responsible way to engage in sports betting, and a lot of fans and people do so. Ninety-six percent of people overall generally lose in sports betting in the long run, so just be responsible about how you react to that – own it yourself.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox News
30 minutes ago
- Fox News
Trump border czar responds to Newsom's 'arrest me' challenge as California riots over ICE raids
Trump border czar Tom Homan fired back at California Gov. Gavin Newsom after the Democrat dared Homan to arrest him while defending the state's handling of anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles. "He's a tough guy, why doesn't he do that [arrest me]? He knows where to find me," Newsom told MSNBC Sunday. "Come after me, arrest me, let's just get it over with. Tough guy. I don't give a damn, but I care about my community… and I'm sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So Tom, arrest me." The governor's taunt came after Homan warned Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could face federal charges for trying to impede ICE operations throughout the city, according to The New York Post. Homan told "Fox & Friends" on Monday that he had told an NBC reporter that "no one's above the law," but there was no discussion about arresting Newsom. "What we discussed was for those protesters that crossed the line… you can protest, you get your First Amendment rights, but when you cross that line, you put hands on an ICE officer or you destroy property or I'd say that you impede law enforcement, or you're knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that's a crime, and the Trump administration is not going to tolerate it," he said. "Then the reporter asked me, well, could Governor Newsom or Mayor Bass be arrested? I said, 'Well no one's above the law. If they cross the line and commit a crime, absolutely they can,' so there was no discussion about arresting Newsom." Homan lambasted the blue state's response to riots against the Trump administration's immigration raids that rocked Los Angeles over the weekend, with some protesters throwing projectiles at law enforcement and torching American flags and cars. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city in an effort to quell some of the unrest, much to the dismay of Democratic officials. "It showed what [Newsom has] done. He's failed that state. He waited two days of that city burning and people getting hurt, officers being assaulted before he made any declaration of an unlawful assembly," Homan said. "He's late to the game. President Trump isn't late to game. The men and women of ICE are not late to the game." The violent protests erupted as ICE officials carried out plans to remove individuals illegally residing in the left-wing city, which dubbed itself a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants in November before Trump was sworn back into the Oval Office. Homan explained that ICE was serving criminal warrants at a business being investigated for money laundering, consumer fraud and "serious violations" of sending money to criminal cartels in Latin American countries. ICE raids began on Friday, with Mayor Bass issuing a statement supporting illegal immigrants in the city and bucking the Trump administration's deportation efforts. Newsom similarly criticized ICE efforts, branding the immigration raids "chaotic and reckless." "Continued chaotic federal sweeps, across California, to meet an arbitrary arrest quota are as reckless as they are cruel. Donald Trump's chaos is eroding trust, tearing families apart, and undermining the workers and industries that power America's economy," a statement from the governor read.


Forbes
32 minutes ago
- Forbes
Johnny McDermott: America's Forgotten US Open Champion
After sixteen long years, the United States would finally claim a win by a native-born player, ending a long streak of foreign-born winners at the U.S. Open. The first U.S.-born winner of the U.S. Open has a complex history and a golf résumé that reads more like a work of fiction than a true story, an epic rise and fall fit for the silver screen. Johnny McDermott came from humble beginnings. Born to a West Philadelphia mailman, he learned the game of golf while caddying at Aronimink Golf Club and would go on to become the first U.S.-born winner of the U.S. Open and, to this day, remains the youngest winner in the tournament's history. McDermott's early years were tumultuous. His father, McDermott Sr., was quick to anger, and by age six, McDermott Jr. was living part-time with his maternal grandmother. This may have benefited his golf game, as her home was next to a new nine-hole course. At age nine, McDermott began caddying at Aronimink Golf Club. It was said he would go for weeks at a time in immaculately clean, polished clothing, full of spunk and ego, then spend a week wearing the same poorly washed, crumpled clothes, withdrawn and reclusive. It's presumed he was in one of his high phases when he marched into the Aronimink clubhouse and demanded a caddying position, announcing he would be 'the best caddy they would ever hire.' He quickly found beauty in the golf swing. With guidance from club professional Walter Reynolds, McDermott learned to swing, grasped the strategy of the game, and even began manufacturing his own clubs. In 1906, at age 15 and under orders from his father, McDermott left school to join the workforce. Urged to work the docks and 'earn an honest living,' he instead became the assistant professional at Camden Country Club in New Jersey. He began competing in money matches, common at the time, where club members financially backed their pros. Still relatively unknown, McDermott pushed for more recognition and sought a position at a more prestigious club. From the writings of A.W. Tillinghast: 'One day a little fellow came up to me and recalled that he had caddied for me on a number of occasions and that he had become the head pro at a small nine-hole club in Merchantville, South Jersey. He yearned for better things and asked me to help him get the vacancy at Philadelphia Country Club. The suggestion, coming from an utterly unknown, staggered me. When I told him I had already placed former champion Willie Anderson there, he said it was a shame, as he could beat Anderson for red apples or green money. This supreme egoism left me quite cold. I regarded McDermott merely as a bumptious youth who needed a good trimming to show him his place.' Three years later, at age 18, McDermott played in his first U.S. Open. Unlike Francis Ouimet, McDermott faced less resistance entering the tournament as an established professional. However, professionals were still considered socially and morally inferior to their amateur counterparts. He finished 49th. Standing only 5'6' and weighing 130 pounds, McDermott was small even by the standards of the day. But his personality loomed large. Following his debut, he placed ads in New York newspapers challenging anyone to $500 matches (equivalent to over $13,000 today). His arrogance became public at the 1910 U.S. Open, where he finished second after a loss in the playoff. Afterward, he told winner Alex Smith, 'I'll get you next time, you big tramp.' McDermott's game and bravado soon carried him to victory at the Philadelphia Open. That win helped him move from the small nine-hole club to the prestigious Atlantic City Country Club, where he began playing money matches for $1,000. At the 1911 U.S. Open at Chicago Golf Club, McDermott arrived as t he American favorite. His fast, athletic swing, grimacing expressions, large hands, and the audible thwack of ball-on-club distinguished him. He started with a shaky 81 but rebounded in rounds 2, 3 and 4 to tie for the lead. In a playoff, he triumphed, despite rain and wind, thanks to his powerful, aggressive game and swing. At just 19, McDermott became (and still remains) the youngest winner of the U.S. Open. The following year, he defended his title at the Country Club of Buffalo, shooting two under par and winning by two strokes, the first under-par finish in U.S. Open history. Later that year, he placed fifth in his first Open Championship in Britain. British journalists, known for their bluntness, dubbed him the 'Little American Boy.' Shortly after returning, McDermott won the Shawnee Open by eight shots against a field that included Harry Vardon. In his post-round speech, McDermott famously said: 'We hope our foreign visitors had a good time, but we don't think they did, and we are sure they won't win the National Open.' The comment nearly ended his career. The USGA was furious, and despite his two U.S. Open wins and status as the only American-born champion, they considered banning him. His brash behavior, coupled with his status as a professional (rather than an amateur 'gentleman'), alienated many. In 1913, at The Country Club in Brookline, McDermott returned to defend his title. Rattled by controversy, he finished eighth. His reign ended as another American emerged, Francis Ouimet, a mild-mannered amateur who defeated Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff. The media embraced Ouimet. Like McDermott, he had caddied and taught himself the game. But unlike McDermott, he was seen as noble, humble, and deserving. While Ouimet became America's Cinderella story, McDermott was cast aside. His attempted comeback unraveled tragically. After arriving late for the 1914 Open Championship, his ferry having collided with another ship, McDermott withdrew. The incident, though minor, seemed to mentally shatter him. In October 1914, McDermott suffered a major mental breakdown. Today, his behavior might be diagnosed as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Voluntarily institutionalized, he became a patient at Norristown State Hospital but was occasionally allowed to play golf. He frequented Atlantic City Country Club and often played the hospital's modest six-hole course. Walter Hagen, a golf legend of the era, would visit and sometimes play with McDermott. Sitting with Hagen one day, McDermott repeatedly said: 'I don't think I ever saw a more beautiful view than from here. I think it is fine. Tell the boys I'm doing well.' Despite his mental decline, McDermott appeared to find some comfort. Norristown offered early occupational therapy, and patients engaged in making wicker baskets, leather goods, and rugs. However, treatments at the time also included digitalis, electroshock therapy, opioids, binding, and bloodletting. In his later years, McDermott suffered memory and speech loss, often mumbling incoherently and failing to recognize friends and family. In one final indignity, McDermott was removed from a tournament clubhouse for wearing shabby clothing. Arnold Palmer, witnessing the incident, ensured he was allowed to stay and acknowledged his immense contribution to American golf. McDermott died later that year. Johnny McDermott was a remarkable figure in American sports. His meteoric rise placed enormous pressure on his young mind, which eventually collapsed under the strain. He was a pioneer, his swing bold, his voice louder still. But his mind pushed too far, and he spent the majority of his life institutionalized. A boy from humble beginnings who conquered the golf world before being consumed by it, McDermott is a tragic American hero. He reached the summit of golf greatness, but the price of that pursuit was everything else


Fox News
32 minutes ago
- Fox News
Defense expert delivers devastating blow to prosecution theory in Karen Read murder trial as case nears end
A crash reconstructionist returned to the stand in Karen Read's murder trial Monday, the proceeding's 29th day, as her defense prepares to rest its case this week. She is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, by clipping him with her 2021 Lexus LX 570 SUV on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die on the ground in a record-setting blizzard. Before jurors arrived, Judge Beverly Cannone heard motions regarding rebuttal testimony and to preclude or limit expert witnesses. She said she would hold an additional evidentiary hearing to determine what Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a Rhode Island forensic pathologist and professor at Brown University, can testify in front of jurors. David Yannetti, one of Read's defense lawyers, told the court that her legal team believes O'Keefe was "placed" on the ground near a flagpole outside 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. Laposata is expected to discuss O'Keefe's injuries and how and where he could have suffered them. The home is about 20 miles south of Boston. Read, O'Keefe and others went there for an after-party on Jan. 28, 2022. Dr. Daniel Wolfe, the reconstrucitonist from a firm called ARCCA, testified last week that damage to Read's SUV is inconsistent with the type of impact that prosecutors allege left O'Keefe dead early the following morning. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB But on cross-examination, he conceded that flying fragments of a taillight could have been the source of injuries to O'Keefe's face and nose before he suffered a fractured skull from what prosecution experts testified was a backward fall. Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, drunken driving manslaughter and leaving the scene. Her defense maintains that her vehicle never struck O'Keefe and that his injuries were caused in some other manner after she left. Read could face life in prison if convicted of the top charge. Jurors deadlocked at her first trial last year on the same charges.