Fanatics Launches Program That Could Help Protect Esports Players From Gambling Abuse

Fanatics Sportsbook has launched a new initiative aimed at tackling one of the biggest problems facing modern sports and esports: online abuse from bettors frustrated by losing wagers.

The operator announced the Bad Actor Program in partnership with integrity technology company IC360 and threat intelligence specialist Signify Group. The initiative is designed to identify customers who harass, threaten, or abuse athletes online, with Fanatics pledging to suspend or permanently ban users found to have engaged in that behavior.

While the program covers all sports, it could have a significant impact on esports, where professional players have increasingly become targets of harassment from angry gamblers following high-profile matches.

New Program Targets Online Harassment

The Bad Actor Program combines Signify Group's Threat Matrix platform with IC360's betting integrity technology to investigate abusive behavior directed at athletes, coaches, and officials.

Threat Matrix monitors public social media platforms for threatening or abusive messages, while players and teams are encouraged to report direct messages and other incidents that may not be publicly visible. If investigators determine that content crosses into criminal behavior, the evidence can be referred to law enforcement agencies.

Fanatics says customers found responsible for abusive, threatening, defamatory, or harassing conduct could face account suspensions or permanent betting bans.

CEO Matt King said no gambling loss should justify threatening athletes online and encouraged other betting operators to adopt similar policies.

Esports Players Have Faced Growing Abuse

The announcement comes just weeks after Astralis captain Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen deleted his social media accounts following a wave of abusive messages and death threats.

Unfortunately, incidents like that have become increasingly common across esports. Players regularly receive insults, harassment, and even threats from bettors after matches, particularly in titles with active betting markets such as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, and VALORANT.

Beyond online abuse, professional players have also reported receiving messages attempting to persuade them to intentionally underperform or manipulate matches for betting purposes. Betting integrity organizations have repeatedly warned that this type of contact poses a growing risk to competitive esports.

Earlier this year, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) also reported an increase in suspicious betting alerts involving esports, highlighting the continued need for stronger integrity measures across the industry.

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IC360 Expands Integrity Efforts

IC360, formed through the 2024 merger of U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance, already works with sportsbooks and regulators to detect suspicious betting activity and potential match-fixing.

As part of the Bad Actor Program, the company's ProhiBet platform will now be used to identify bettors linked to abusive online behavior, allowing participating operators to take action against offending accounts.

Scott Sadin, Co-CEO of IC360, said threats and harassment directed at athletes have increased at an alarming rate and warned that the behavior undermines confidence in the sports betting industry.

For now, Fanatics is the first sportsbook to join the initiative. Whether other major operators follow suit remains to be seen, but the program represents one of the industry's clearest attempts yet to hold abusive bettors accountable.

For esports professionals, who often face relentless harassment after high-profile matches, it could become another tool to help create a healthier competitive environment both inside and outside the game.