NCAA Releases Anti-Harassment Video Aimed at March Madness Bettors
March Madness commenced with a thrilling last-second win by Alabama State, signaling the start of the annual basketball frenzy. However, the real madness over the upcoming month may originate from certain fans participating in America’s most significant betting event of the year.
In response to the escalating trend of sports betting, the NCAA recently unveiled a new video as part of the Draw the Line campaign, which will air during broadcasts of both the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments. Titled “Don’t Be a Loser,” the video sheds light on the abuse and harassment endured by student-athletes from disgruntled fans who have lost bets on the games.
A recent report from the American Gaming Association (AGA) estimated that a staggering $3.1 billion is likely to be legally wagered on this year’s basketball tournaments, doubling the amount bet on the Super Bowl. A study conducted last year revealed that one in three student-athletes had received abusive messages with a vested interest in betting, and around 80% of the abuse was directed towards male and female student-athletes during March Madness. Strikingly, female basketball players received nearly three times more threats than their male counterparts.
“The horrific messages being circulated on various online platforms are totally unacceptable,” stated NCAA President Charlie Baker in a press release. He emphasized the detrimental impact of abusive messages and threats on student-athletes’ mental health and well-being, urging for immediate action to be taken to safeguard the college athletics environment.
The NCAA has intensified its efforts to combat this epidemic, with more than 100,000 student-athletes having received education on sports betting and gambling harm prevention. Over 22,000 contests are monitored through a global integrity program, 18 states and Washington, D.C., have banned player prop bets, and numerous student-athletes and coaches are covered by a harassment monitoring service. Additionally, several surveys have been conducted to understand wagering trends among young adults and betting challenges faced by campus compliance directors.
The NCAA men’s college basketball tournament is set to resume on Wednesday, March 19, with the final two games of The First Four taking place in Dayton, Ohio. As the tournament progresses, fans are encouraged to engage with March Madness picks to join in on the excitement, with the full 64-team field kicking off on Thursday, March 20. The NCAA’s ongoing dedication to curbing abusive behavior and threats towards student-athletes seeks to preserve the integrity and spirit of college athletics amidst the fervor of March Madness.