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The NCAA announced Oct. 29 that it has joined the Bad Actor program, an effort to detect and combat online harassment, abuse and threats against college athletes, coaches and officials, according to InGame.
The initiative adds to national efforts to address betting-related abuse. West Virginia already allows regulators to place harassers on involuntary exclusion lists that bar them from legal sportsbooks.
Fanatics commits to account penalties
The Bad Actor program launched in June through a collaboration between Signify Group, IC360 and Fanatics Sportsbook. It targets abusive conduct on social media and other platforms.
Fanatics was the first legal sports betting operator to join. The sportsbook committed to suspending or permanently closing customer accounts when evidence shows abusive, threatening or harassing conduct toward athletes, coaches or officials.
The NCAA also works with Venmo to identify and disrupt betting-related harassment on the payment app.
West Virginia has an exclusion tool
West Virginia is among four states identified by InGame as allowing regulators to put harassers on involuntary exclusion lists. Ohio, Wyoming and Louisiana also have that authority.
Ohio used its authority for the first time the week before the NCAA announcement, banning a bettor accused of threatening Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider during the World Series.
Washington has taken a separate approach. Its SB 6137, which took effect in June, makes a wager-related threat against a sporting event official, coach or participant a gross misdemeanor. People convicted under that law are also barred from sports betting in the state.
NCAA research documented betting-related abuse
The NCAA’s participation builds on its 2024 study with Signify, which examined online harassment across seven Division I championships and the College Football Playoff title game.
The study verified more than 5,000 abusive posts and messages. Betting-related content accounted for 12% of verified abuse, rising to 19% in men’s basketball and football.
March Madness accounted for 80% of the abuse. Women’s basketball players received roughly three times as many threats as men’s players.
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Source: As reported by InGame.
