The intersection of March Madness, sports betting, and social media has created a troubling environment for college athletes, with many facing harassment and threats from disgruntled gamblers.
Key Takeaways:
- One in three high-profile athletes receive abusive messages from bettors
- Player prop bets are fueling targeted harassment of individual athletes
- Mental health support for college athletes is becoming increasingly crucial
The Growing Crisis
As March Madness captivates the nation, a darker side of the tournament is emerging. College athletes are increasingly becoming targets of online abuse and threats from gamblers who lose money on their performances. This troubling trend is exacerbated by the rise of player prop bets, which allow wagering on individual player statistics.
Luke Nathan, a former Rutgers basketball center pursuing a doctorate in sports psychology, has witnessed this issue firsthand. “It gets worse and worse every year it seems,” Nathan said. “When I was in college, my teammates would get death threats.”
The Impact of Prop Bets
The proliferation of prop bets has intensified the problem. Nathan explains, “There is so much stuff that people can already bet on; they don’t need these extra player props. Those are the bets that really get the bettors mad at the players.”
The NCAA has attempted to address the issue with a public service announcement stating, “only a loser would harass a college athlete after losing a bet.” However, the effectiveness of such measures remains questionable in the face of widespread gambling advertising.
Mental Health Concerns
The constant scrutiny and potential for abuse are taking a toll on athletes’ mental health. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell described the situation as players metaphorically getting “either hugged or punched” after every game.
Zach Martini, a Rutgers forward, highlighted the binary nature of fan reactions: “If we win, everyone loves us. If you lose, as soon as you check your phone, 10 Instagram notifications on how bad of a player you are.”
Addressing the Issue
Sports psychologists are becoming increasingly important in helping athletes navigate these challenges. Nathan’s work with high school and college athletes has shown promising results in providing coping strategies.
“Sports psychology was something that helped me when I was playing at Rutgers,” Nathan shared. “A lot of the skills I learned through that have helped me outside of sports.”
As the gambling industry continues to expand its reach into college sports, the need for mental health support and protective measures for athletes has never been greater. The coming years will likely see increased focus on balancing the excitement of sports betting with the well-being of the athletes at the center of it all.
