Fanatics Sportsbook Unveils Bad Actor Tool to Target Bettor Abuse of Athletes

Fanatics Sportsbook Unveils Bad Actor Tool to Target Bettor Abuse of Athletes

In order to identify and ban bettors who abuse players and coaches online, Fanatics Sportsbook has partnered with Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and Signify Group to introduce a first-of-its-kind "Bad Actor Program."

IC360 and Signify Group's Threat Matrix service will work together to monitor various social media sites for potentially dangerous content as part of the Bad Actor Program.

If abuse of athletes, teams, or organizations on open-source social media is discovered, the perpetrators will be added to IC360's ProhiBet Bad Actor platform.

ProhiBet Bad Actor allows sportsbooks to disable betting accounts belonging to anyone who threaten or harass athletes and coaches, much to IC360's ProhiBet software, which aids in preventing players, coaches, and trainers from placing unlawful wagers.

 

Fans are the first to jump on board

The Bad Actor program's first authorized sports betting participant, Fanatics Sportsbook, will introduce the new initiative in time for football season.

“This groundbreaking program will hold bettors accountable for threats made against players, coaches, and officials.  It falls in line with our core values at Fanatics – respect and tolerance for the athletes and coaches that play the games that we love,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming.

"We encourage other operators to join the initiative because there is no sports betting potential loss that should embolden a sports betting customer to threaten or harass an athlete online.”

 

Fans warn that abusive bettors will be banned permanently.

Athletes and coaches are urged to report abusive direct messages as part of Threat Matrix's monitoring. After those are turned in, Signify will evaluate their seriousness and send evidence packs to law enforcement if the behavior seems unlawful.

If a customer is found to have engaged in abusive, threatening, defamatory, or harassing behavior, including remarks in reply threads, reposts, and broader fan conversation, Fanatics Sportsbook will suspend or permanently delete their account.

According to a statement from Fanatics, the list of names and evidence-based reports would be distributed to other "like-minded legal sports betting operators."

“Threats of violence and harassment in sports at arenas and on social media are increasing at an alarming rate, undermining the integrity of the sports betting industry,” said Scott Sadin, Co-CEO of IC360.  “Addressing the individuals with ProhiBet BA and Threat Matrix is crucial to protecting athletes and other stakeholders from serious, long-term harm.”

 

Coaches and Athletes Are Being Targeted More and More on Social Media

The program coincides with an increase in harassment of athletes and coaches due to gambling. 12% of all flagged, abusive postings addressed at collegiate athletes were directly motivated by sports betting, according to a seminal NCAA study examining social media abuse during the 2024 season.

A increasing dilemma in the workplace is reflected in that unfriendly environment. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros was the focus of internet death threats against his family in May 2025 by an irate, drunk bettor from abroad. As a result, team owner Jim Crane had to hire private security for the player's house around-the-clock.

Christian Yelich, an outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, reportedly told ESPN that most major league players now deal with online hate speech tied to gambling on a nightly basis.

Additionally, coaches are taking the brunt of the criticism. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who has since taken over the Detroit Pistons, told reporters in 2024 that irate sports bettors had obtained his personal phone number and were harassing him with threatening messages directed at his kids and revealing information about his family's residence.

 

Threatening Kiner-Falefa

For Canadian fans, the hate speech last November was excruciatingly personal. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays, was sitting in a shocked clubhouse just after the team's devastating loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series. He was scrolling through a torrent of abusive messages, including explicit threats to break his legs.

In the ninth inning, the infielder was involved in a closely watched, crucial force-out at home plate that ultimately helped the Dodgers win the game and the championship.

Immediately following the poisonous fallout, there was conjecture that the animosity stemmed from financial loss rather than true team loyalty.

“Sounds like some people lost money on last night’s game. Fans? Likely not. Degenerate gamblers? High possibility. It’s so crazy professional sports allow gambling advertisements, and it’s become so [commonplace],” noted one observer on Threads.

The idea that "sports betting has ruined fandom" by encouraging people to risk money they cannot afford to lose was expressed by another commenter.