Sports Gambling's Dark Side: When Bets Turn to Threats

Gabby Thomas, a prominent Olympic sprinter, was recently the subject of a disturbing incident during a race in Philadelphia. A gambler, who had placed a bet on FanDuel, heckled Thomas at the starting line, boasting afterward about causing her to lose. Thomas subsequently shared her experience on Twitter, prompting FanDuel to ban the heckler from their platform. This incident highlights the growing concerns surrounding the normalization of sports gambling and its potential for negative consequences, as discussed by NYT best-selling author Jeff Pearlman in a recent video. Pearlman states, "Someone is going to get f***ing killed." He points out that the ease of access to information about athletes' locations and schedules makes them vulnerable to threats from gamblers who lose money. The incident underscores the need for a wider conversation about the ethical considerations of sports gambling and the potential for harm to athletes.

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2 months ago

Jeff Pearlman: Bill Simmons makes it sound like you can’t enjoy sports without …

Jeff Pearlman calls out Bill Simmons and The Ringer for promoting a sports culture where gambling feels mandatory.