# US sports leagues unite against bettor threats

> NFL, NBA, MLB and others demand government action as gambling boom fuels harassment of athletes and their families.
- Title: US sports leagues unite against bettor threats · SI Mexico
- Summary: NFL, NBA, MLB and others demand government action as gambling boom fuels harassment of athletes and their families. Major US sports leagues are pushing for a…
- Keywords: nfl, nba, mlb, nhl, mls, sports betting, online gambling, athlete harassment, bettor threats, united states, lance mccullers, jessica pegula
- Source: SI Mexico — https://si.com/mx/grandes-ligas-de-ee-uu-se-unen-para-pedir-acciones-contra-amenazas-de-apostadores
- Published: 2026-09-15T20:28:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nfl, nba, mlb, nhl, mls, sports betting, online gambling, athlete harassment, bettor threats, united states, lance mccullers, jessica pegula
## Leagues unite against bettor threats
NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS and all their player associations issued a joint statement demanding government action. They want a system to detect abusive bettors and ban them from online casinos.
## Losing bets fuel harassment
People who lose bets frequently direct threats and harassment toward players, coaches and their families via social media and in person. This has become a widespread problem since legal betting expanded.

> Muy frecuentemente, personas que pierden apuestas dirigen amenazas y acoso hacia jugadores, entrenadores y sus familias
## Leagues propose cross-state bans
The proposal would let leagues share evidence of threats with regulators and create a nationwide exclusion list. Betting sites would be required to monitor and close accounts linked to abusive behavior.
## Athletes receive death threats weekly
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers needed 24-hour security for his family. Nathaniel Lowe gets messages telling him to kill himself about five days a week after bad games.
## 36% of college basketball players harassed
An NCAA study found over a third of Division I men's basketball players suffered betting-related abuse on social media in 12 months. Among football players, 16% received threatening messages about bets.
## Angry bettors behind 40% of abuse
Tennis organizations analyzed 1.6 million posts in 2024 and verified 8,000 as abusive or threatening. Angry bettors were responsible for 40% of all detected abuse.
## Key takeaway

Major US sports leagues are pushing for a nationwide system to ban abusive bettors from online casinos after athletes faced widespread threats.