Bettors are harassing college athletes. It’s time for Congress to act.

Growing up, mom always said, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” While she was unaware at the time, this phrase may become pointed legal advice — especially if you are a college sports fan or bettor.

College athletes across the country deal with abusive and vulgar messages from sports fans daily. Take Florida State forward Cam Corhen for example, who after being injured early in a basketball game and only scoring two points, returned to his phone filled with hateful messages from bettors, including one that said, “I hope your mom dies.” Or, North Carolina forward Armando Bacot, who received over one hundred messages demeaning him for having too few rebounds, just 12 days after North Carolina legalized player prop bets on collegiate sports.

Collegiate athlete harassment stemming from sports betting is a widespread issue. One in three high-profile athletes receive abusive messages from people with a betting interest. Student-athletes are demanded to strenuously prepare for their competitions multiple times per day, compete at a high level each week, and simultaneously, perform well academically. Beyond that, in the age of NIL, they are incentivized for maintaining extremely public-facing profiles online. These athletes face an impossible choice: build the public profile NIL demands or protect themselves from relentless online abuse.

Because these young athletes should not have to make such a decision at this stage in their lives, federal legislation is necessary to combat the issue. As legalized sports betting intensifies fan motivation to abusively target athletes, Congress must intervene........

© The Hill