Pro Athletes' Increasingly Negative Views of Sports Betting

It's been over seven years since the Supreme Court decision repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and we are seeing the consequences of how this decision has reshaped the business, sports and culture in the United States. 

Fans can place prop bets on individual plays, follow odds integrated into broadcasts and discuss parlays more casually and comfortably than ever before. For many professional athletes, the rapid pervasiveness of sports wagering has brought harassment, safety threats and impacts on the integrity of their league.

A recent anonymous multi-league player survey illustrates the sharp turn in athletes’ attitudes. They see the impacts of sports betting normalized first hand on a daily basis, and have commented publicly on the evolving dynamic between them and fans. Their responses often align with the increasing number of Americans who now say that the negative impacts of sports betting now seem to outweigh the benefits.

Professional athletes facing more abuse from bettors

In the survey, MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL athletes described a clear uptick in hostile messages linked to fans’ gambling losses.

In Major League Baseball, 78% of surveyed players said legal sports betting has changed how fans treat them. Several reported receiving death threats, including messages demanding repayment for lost bets. 

One veteran pitcher reported a Venmo request accompanied by a threat against his family if he didn’t send back supposed losses.

Many NBA players reported receiving an alarming amount of abusive messages every game, usually tied to parlays. It’s become such a regular occurrence that some players said regardless of performance, harassment is to be expected. 

NHL players, especially goalies, who are “more exposed” to blame, reported receiving frequent disturbing messages. 

Even in the NFL, where players weren’t polled in the same formal structure, several have recently spoken publicly about receiving death threats over missed kicks or disappointing fantasy and betting outcomes.

And because the general public is more likely to take individual player prop Overs, instead of Unders, like Mike Trout “over” 1.5 hits for example, gamblers are expecting players to do great things every night, or every time they bet on them. Off nights happen just as often, if not more often than great nights, and even the biggest superstars are human too. 

As betting markets have expanded, so has the perception that athletes are responsible for fans’ financial outcomes.

Views on prop bets and potential impacts on integrity

Players across all leagues expressed growing discomfort with bets on individual players’ statistics. These bets can blur the line between successful performance and financial incentive, and social media only amplifies the outcomes of each play.

The situation is particularly visible in the NBA, significant figures were recently indicted for alleged misuse of non-public information and manipulation of performance for betting purposes. 

Nearly half of surveyed NBA players said the league’s gambling partnerships create a conflict of interest, especially as they are simultaneously expected to avoid sports wagering themselves.

MLB union leader Tony Clark has called for the elimination of prop bets entirely. NFL leadership has reiterated restrictions around wagers tied to player injuries, officiating and micro props. like “first pass attempt result”. Still, countless prop markets remain available across major legalized sportsbooks, creating grounds for manipulation.

Gambling education by professional sports leagues

Leagues uniformly promote education, but players report mixed satisfaction.

In the NFL, 83% of surveyed players said the league educates them well about gambling rules, though some confusion remains about evolving restrictions, as the situation is always in flux. Players acknowledged the message is simple: avoiding gambling entirely is the safest path.

In MLB, leadership has emphasized a commitment to education, but some players and executives want more clarity and stronger protections. With multiple players having been caught allegedly betting or manipulating their own performance in recent years, education alone may not adequately address every risk.

Teams and leagues in every sport are now looking to find the right balance between the volume of betting markets and speed of mobile gambling with the impacts on athlete safety, integrity and the overall dynamics of sports fandom in the U.S.

Overall impacts of sports betting on the relationship between athletes and fans

Sports betting has become intertwined with everyday fandom, and for many has become the primary reason to watch games.

For athletes, this normalization can feel dehumanizing. Athlete performance has become transactional for thousands of fans, reducing the traditional fan connections of loyalty and casual entertainment. When a single rebound, pitch or kick influences a fan’s parlay, the stakes of every play extend beyond competition and into a bettor’s wallet.

This dynamic can erode trust between athletes and fans, and the constant exposure to harassment can take a cumulative mental-health toll. Many players fear that physical confrontations, not only online abuse, are increasingly possible.

Treatment for Gambling Addiction in the U.S.

Awareness of Gambling Addiction risks is important, but it’s not enough on its own. Those affected by gambling in a negative way need access to specialized, evidence-based support.

Birches Health offers the leading gambling recovery program in the country, with licensed clinicians who specialize in the emotional, behavioral and financial dimensions of Gambling Addiction. Care is delivered discreetly through virtual sessions and can be covered by insurance and state funding for eligible residents.

There are multiple options to connect with Birches Health today:

Schedule a clinical consultation

Call 833-483-3838

Email help@bircheshealth.com