Bettors are harassing college athletes. It’s time for Congress to act.

College athletes are increasingly becoming targets of coordinated harassment campaigns driven by illegal betting operations and financially motivated online gamblers. As the underground sports betting market has expanded, so too have incidents of abusive messages, threats, and social media harassment directed at players—particularly following games where bettors lose money. These attacks often escalate beyond typical fan criticism, crossing into personal threats and coordinated campaigns that can seriously impact student-athlete mental health and safety.

Lawmakers are responding with proposals for federal oversight mechanisms designed to protect vulnerable athletes while simultaneously cracking down on illegal gambling networks. A key component of these efforts is the establishment of a national banned bettors registry, which would prevent individuals with documented harassment histories or illegal gambling convictions from participating in sports betting platforms. Such a system would create consequences for abusive bettors and provide platforms with a tool to identify and remove repeat offenders.

Equally important to these registry proposals is granting college athletes direct legal standing to pursue civil actions against those who harass them. This would give athletes an additional layer of protection beyond relying on social media platforms' moderation policies or law enforcement, allowing them to hold harassers accountable through the courts. Combined with stronger enforcement against illegal betting operations, these measures could significantly reduce the financial incentives and sense of impunity that currently drive much of this behavior.

The push for congressional action reflects growing recognition that existing regulatory frameworks have failed to protect college athletes from abuse tied to the gambling industry. Federal legislation would create uniform standards across all states and establish clear penalties for harassment linked to gambling activities, while also addressing the broader problem of illegal sports betting that operates largely outside current legal oversight. Without intervention, experts warn that harassment incidents will likely continue to proliferate as betting markets expand.