In the shadow of stadium lights, a sinister phenomenon has emerged, threatening the well-being of college athletes. A recent analysis reveals that harassment from disgruntled sports bettors has become a pervasive problem, accounting for at least 12% of publicly posted social media abuse. The NCAA, in partnership with data science company Signify Group, conducted a comprehensive study of social media accounts belonging to over 3,000 college athletes, 500 coaches, 200 event officials, and 165 teams during major tournaments.
The findings are alarming. “Angry sports bettors,” defined as individuals who engage in abusive communications due to match events contradicting their predictions, have created a toxic environment for athletes. Sexual abuse, racism, and homophobia are also rampant, with some posts not overtly mentioning gambling still linked to betting. The study flagged 743 abusive or threatening messages referencing betting or match-fixing allegations, with a staggering 73% occurring during March Madness.
Women athletes are disproportionately affected, receiving approximately 59% more abusive messages than their male counterparts. Even in less popular sports like softball, 24% of abusive messages were attributed to angry bettors. The NCAA notes that this analysis only scratches the surface, as private messages likely harbor even more severe harassment.
Signify’s research suggests that angry sports bettors drive up to 45% of all abuse surrounding major sports tournaments. The NCAA shared disturbing examples of abusive messages, including death threats and requests for money. As the prevalence of sports betting increases, so does the prevalence of sports betting-related abuse. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have banned licensed sportsbooks from offering college prop bets, a move the NCAA supports. While it’s too early to draw conclusions, gambling regulators in these states report fewer issues of harassment.
Signify employed artificial intelligence to identify potentially abusive social media posts, which were then reviewed by data scientists. Some posts were deemed serious enough to be referred to authorities. As the sports world grapples with this growing concern, one thing is clear: the intersection of sports betting and social media has created a perfect storm of abuse, and it’s time for action.
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