NBA, WNBA Send Second Letter On Betting Harassment
The NBA, WNBA, their players' unions and referees' unions from both leagues have sent a follow-up letter to state gambling regulators, reinforcing demands for a crackdown on betting-related harassment of players and officials.
The letter follows a joint statement sent in mid-September by the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS, which the NBA and WNBA are now reinforcing with their own players' unions and referees' unions attached, according to Yahoo Sports.
Both letters urge state regulators to impose the same three restrictions on individuals who engage in betting-related harassment: a mandatory lifetime ban, easier reporting channels, and proactive monitoring and banning of accounts linked to abusive behavior.
WNBA Was Left Out The First Time
The WNBA was notably absent from the original mid-September statement, prompting the WNBPA to issue its own statement afterward, blaming the NBA for determining that "WNBA players did not warrant inclusion in a joint position statement." This time, the WNBA, WNBPA and both leagues' referees' unions were included.
"Members of our organizations are facing a marked increase in betting-related harassment and threats, typically from angry bettors who are on the wrong side of a particular wager," the letter states.
"This conduct ranges from shouted harassment in an arena or on the street to violent threats conveyed online or on social media." The push comes as legal sports betting handle continues to climb across the states where the leagues operate.
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