MLB players are detailing the harassment they’ve received from sports bettors

The PASPA Act was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018. That allowed regulated sports betting to be legalized in the US. Since then, 38 states have some form of legal sports betting. Whether that be online or at a physical casino location. In a USA Today report, MLB players have detailed their growing concerns about harassment from sports bettors. Several accounts describe the situation as “getting worse” and “out of hand”. Not what the MLB wants to hear from their players. 

According to reports, players are getting messages on social media, requests from bettors who lost money, and even threats to the player and their family. USA Today noted that an unnamed MLB general manager received death threats at his home. He later requested police protection. What can the MLB do to prevent this from happening to their players?

Players give their first-hand accounts of harassment from sports bettors

With sports betting becoming more popular, the rate at which professional sports players receive harassment continues to increase. We’ve seen this happen in the MLB. Several players shared their stories with USA Today and detailed what had happened. 

Fans are no longer just showing up to the ballpark to cheer for their favorite team. Sports betting is hotter than it has ever been. Bettors enjoy going to a live game and being able to see if their bet cashes in person. It adds another layer to the game. While it’s fun for the fans, players do not enjoy being heckled by fans for their performance on the field. San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb had this to say.

“Now, you’re getting, ‘You just cost me money.’ They say some (messed) up (expletive),” said Webb. “I get a lot of that with strikeouts. ‘Hey, I got money on you for strikeouts. Are you going to hit it?”

Fans have taken it too far by requesting money online from players who cost them a winning bet

San Francisco Giants receiver Tyler Rogers got a Venmo request for $1,500 from a fan. Just an absurd thing to do. Sports gambling is a risk. Bettors know that when they place a wager. Fans take it a step too far when they start requesting ridiculous amounts of money from a player for a lost bet. That should never happen. Heckling at the ballpark is one thing. Requesting over $1,000 from a player crosses the line.