Sports have been part of our society for centuries, with athletes competing against each other to win the game and prove that they are better than the others. However, as the times have changed, so have the motivations and circumstances around sports. Now, leagues are concerned with how much money they can make from each game, and it can often feel like the health of the players, both physically and mentally, is put to the side.
With the legalization of sports betting, now each game has real money on the line for thousands of fans. These fans can be passionate about their lost money and take it out on the players they feel are responsible for the loss. When sports betting was legalized, the impact on players and their relationship with fans was forever altered. Before, the fans might have idolized them for their abilities and character. Now, many fans will see them like prized racing horses, betting on their performance and making them the target of their anger when they fail.
The following statement from Arizona Diamondbacks receiver Logan Allen gives an idea of what it is like for the players who lose a game with bets on the line: “I remember being followed home one time when I was playing for Cleveland,” they continue, “I had a really bad game, and this guy follows me home, and starts cussing at me, telling me I cost him all of this money. It’s scary.”
Crazy fans are always an issue that professional players have had to deal with. However, it is uncertain whether sports leagues have taken the proper precautions to protect their players from the reactions of the new sports betting crowd. Already, several players have received death threats over poor performance during games from angry fans who have lost money.
With money on the line, the anger among fans from a lost game is going to have significantly more weight than it did in the past. I think players are going to need more mental health and possibly physical protection going forward, as I believe nearly every player in each sports league is going to become the target of hatred from gambling fans.
