One of the unexpected outcomes of regulated sports betting in the United States was a shocking uptick in aggrieved gamblers harassing athletes who didn’t live up to the expectations of their individual player props. While this kind of harassment is inexcusable at any level, it’s especially bad when the target is a student athlete. That’s lead several states to ban college-level player props entirely and more are joining that group all the time.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is tackling the issue of player harassment by adding a fifth pillar to its Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly campaign. Keep it Cool is described by the AGA as, “Winning and losing are part of sports betting, nobody is perfect; the result of a bet should not prompt negative actions – in person or online – towards athletes and officials.”
This latest pillar of responsible gambling joins that AGA’s previous responsible gaming tenets which include: Set a Budget, Keep it Social, Know the Odds, and Play Legally.
Joe Solosky, Managing Director of Sports Betting at NASCAR spoke about the importance of not harassing athletes in a recent press release saying, “At NASCAR, we believe responsible gaming enhances the overall fan experience. ‘Keep Your Cool’ reflects our shared commitment to encouraging fans to bet responsibly while maintaining a respectful approach to the sport they love.”
AGA President Bill Miller summed up the effort adding, “Responsible gaming efforts like Have A Game Plan and other proactive efforts by legal operators are resonating with consumers and making a difference. ‘Keep Your Cool’ builds on this momentum by reminding bettors that a betting result – good or bad – is not an invitation to criticize a team, official, or athlete.”