"Fanatics to ban abusive sports bettors, spearheading industry reform"

Fanatics Sportsbook is introducing a new initiative focused on targeting sports bettors who have threatened or otherwise abused athletes, officials, or other figures in the sports world due to lost bets.

The company plans to restrict and ban certain customers from its platforms through a collaboration with Integrity Compliance 360 and Signify Group. They have launched the Bad Actor Program (BAP), which enables them to monitor social media and handle direct tips from athletes and officials. Although Fanatics Sportsbook doesn't have the largest sports betting market share in the U.S., BAP aims to become an industry standard in addressing abusers. The program will also share its findings with other sportsbooks, creating an environment where abusers are neither tolerated nor given the chance to gamble. In a statement from Signify Group, it was explained how this initiative will enhance the protection of athletes: As the first legal sports betting operator to join the initiative, Fanatics Sportsbook has committed to suspending or permanently terminating customer accounts where evidence shows abusive, threatening, or harassing behavior towards athletes, coaches, or officials. Fanatics Sportsbook notes that while plaintiffs can still reach out to law enforcement, this is usually a lengthy procedure. BAP can act faster in denying gamblers the chance to bet on outcomes involving professional and college athletes, as well as officials. The program is backed by AI technology that swiftly identifies abusers and places them on a prohibition list in just hours. The evidence gathered by BAP can assist police investigations, regulators, governing bodies, teams, and more. Ultimately, BAP is designed to increase the repercussions for bettors who think they can mistreat athletes and staff, blocking them from gambling, attending team games, and potentially facing civil and criminal prosecution.