Sports Betting and Athlete Safety

BetMGM is rolling out an 'Athlete Anti-Harassment Policy' this week that will let the sportsbook suspend or permanently terminate customer accounts if it determines a bettor has engaged in abusive, threatening, defamatory or harassing conduct toward athletes, coaches, officials or others tied to sporting events. Chief compliance officer Rhea Loney told Fox News Digital the 'zero-tolerance' rule is aimed at the growing wave of social-media abuse tied to prop bets and game outcomes, which players in MLB, the NFL and other leagues have been complaining about since legal sports wagering exploded across the U.S. The policy will apply regardless of whether threats are made online or in person, with BetMGM investigating complaints routed through law enforcement, state regulators, customer service and an anonymous hotline to match abusive messages to betting accounts. Loney drew a clear line between normal fan criticism and threats, racial slurs and intimidation, saying customers who cross it 'undermine the integrity of sport' and are not welcome on the platform. The move positions a top U.S. operator to police its own customer base at a time when regulators and leagues are under pressure to show they can protect players in a betting-saturated environment.