The Betting Boom: Upping the Ante of Online Hate in Sports
Sports have always been about more than just competition—they’re about passion, community, and the unpredictable dance of victory and defeat. But in recent years, a new force has stepped onto the field: online betting. While betting has undoubtedly fueled fan engagement and even kept the lights on for many teams, leagues, and governing bodies, it has also brought with it an unfortunate surge in online hate. This is a reality we must face head-on, as it's not going away. The question is: how do we live in this new world and mitigate the unintended negative consequences?
Understanding the Problem
From Fans to Financiers
What used to be simple fan devotion has evolved. Fans are no longer just cheering from the sidelines; they’re invested—literally. With real money on the line, a last-minute goal or missed shot can mean more than just a win or loss for a team—it can affect personal wallets. This financial stake fuels heightened emotions, turning what used to be disappointment into outright frustration, creating a charged, volatile atmosphere around the game.
And where do fans go to express these heightened emotions? Social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide an immediate outlet for frustrations, but it comes with a steep cost–for the athletes themselves. One bad play, one missed penalty, and athletes are flooded with abuse. The anonymity of the internet gives people the courage to say things they’d never dare utter in person, turning sports figures into easy targets for fans’ financial frustrations.
The Vicious Cycle of Blame
When bets don’t go as planned, the need to assign blame becomes overwhelming. Athletes—who have no involvement in these fans' financial decisions—are suddenly on the receiving end of hate. This is not just theory. We’ve seen it happen time and again: from professional tennis players to NCAA athletes, there are countless real-world examples of abuse after a match. The line between constructive criticism and personal attacks has become dangerously blurred, and as the money involved increases, so does the intensity of these outbursts.
The Human Cost
We celebrate athletes for their physical strength and resilience, but we cannot ignore the emotional toll that constant online harassment takes. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout are becoming all too common in athletes subjected to this abuse. The recent wave of retirements and mental health breaks in professional tennis isn’t a coincidence—it’s a growing trend. This damage doesn’t just stop with the athletes. It impacts their families, their teams, and the broader sports community, eating away at the very heart of sportsmanship.
Betting + Online Abuse In the News
Areto found a nearly 5,000% rise in online betting spam on the Edmonton Oilers’ social media feeds during the playoffs compared to the regular season, an issue raised by researchers in Ontario Canada, who are pushing for national advertising standards to help dull the steep incline of online gambling.
French tennis star, Caroline Garcia, blamed unhealthy betting for her experience of online abuse after her exit from 2024’s US Open Tennis Championship.
In the US, some state regulators have moved to ban legal gambling platforms from offering certain types of bets on collegiate sports thanks to a surge in online harassment of athletes.
The Fix Is In
A Call for Ethical Responsibility
There’s no denying that betting has a firm grip on the sports industry—it’s not just here to stay; it’s woven into the fabric of how sports are funded. Betting keeps the lights on, but with that revenue comes responsibility. If you’re taking the money, you also need to take responsibility for addressing its consequences.
The solution?
Put some of that betting revenue toward creating a healthier digital environment. Brands, leagues, and teams that benefit from betting dollars must ensure that ethical practices are promoted, not just on the betting platforms, but across the fan communities that engage with them online. There’s a moral obligation here: if you profit from betting, you must also invest in strategies to protect the athletes and fans who make your business possible.
Betting on Sportsmanship: A Win-Win for Everyone
Let’s be clear: the responsibility for mitigating online abuse doesn’t just rest with the fans. It’s on the organizations that profit from this ecosystem. If you’re making money from betting, you should also be investing in protecting your community—both athletes and fans alike. Harassment isn’t just unethical, it’s bad for business. Abusive comments drive fans away, weaken engagement, and damage brand value. On the flip side, eliminating toxicity fosters positive interactions and strengthens fan loyalty, leading to increased community value and long-term growth.
This isn’t just about policing behaviour; it’s about creating the culture you want to see in your fanbase. When you invest in content moderation—automatically hiding or deleting toxic posts—you’re signalling that your community values respect and sportsmanship. This approach doesn’t just protect your athletes; it encourages more meaningful engagement and builds stronger, more positive fan communities. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Living in a New Reality
We live in a world where betting and sports are deeply intertwined, creating a complex web of passion, finance, and emotion. Ignoring the impact of betting isn’t an option, and neither is ignoring the online abuse that comes with it. The key is to manage this new reality responsibly. This means adopting ethical approaches to both sports gambling and online engagement by investing in robust systems for content moderation.
By doing so, we ensure that sportsmanship—the very essence of what makes sports so powerful—remains intact. Sports aren’t just about the final score; they’re about community, human connection, and respect. Let’s make sure that as we embrace the future of sports and betting, we’re also protecting the people who make it all possible.
Protect Your Community with Areto: Start a Free Trial Today
As we face the rising tide of online hate fueled by betting, now is the time for teams, leagues, and fans to come together to create a safer online environment. Areto Labs specializes in moderating toxic content and safeguarding sports communities from abuse, so athletes and fans can enjoy the game without fear.
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