Sports betting has officially become part of the culture. It’s commercialized, advertised all over social media, and some of your favorite athletes and media figures are even sponsored by gambling platforms. Before sports betting was so accessible, people had to travel to casinos and rely on bookies, but now that it’s in the palm of your hand, its impact has changed drastically.

Nobody is untouchable these days. The biggest athletes in the world can be reached through social media, emails, texts, and even letters, with enough persistence and the right word choice. If you don’t contact them directly, you can reach them through the team or coaching staff.

Recently, players and members of top leagues have faced severe harassment over sports bets that went wrong. Fans have thrown death threats at families and even wished for career-ending injuries when wagers aren’t fulfilled. Today, the top five athletic associations (NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and NHL) and their respective player unions are fighting back and have addressed the issue in a letter to the State Gaming Commission and Regulatory Authorities.

“On behalf of the five largest professional sports leagues and players associations, we write to you today regarding the escalating threat facing professional players, coaches and officials: the continued harassment and violent threats from sports bettors,” via Adam Schefter. 

“Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line.”

According to Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports, after addressing grievances, the letter listed actions State Gaming Commissions and Regulatory Authorities could take.

• Mandatory lifetime ban: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should create clear rules that could result in lifetime bans for fans who harass or issue threats of violence against athletes or others around the game.

• Streamlined reporting mechanisms: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should create a clear way to report evidence to the proper authorities.

• Operator accountability: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should proactively monitor, flag, and ban accounts linked to abusive behavior.

The commission has yet to issue a statement on the matter, but a prompt response is expected, as these associations are all contributors to major gambling platforms such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics sportsbooks.