Don’t be a Crashout - Cash Out

By ISABELLA CUADRADO

Can you guess how many college athletes are harassed just for making a mistake? The answer is shocking: 1 in 3 student-athletes face harassment, according to a 2024 report by the NCAA. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Signify Group in 2024, AI flagged over 72,000 abusive messages from a pool of 1.3 million social media posts targeting student athletes, coaches, and officials during championship events. Harassment has become a disturbing side effect of the booming sports betting industry, and it's crushing the spirit of the game.

Some fans argue athletes should expect criticism, ‘It’s part of being in the spotlight,’ they say. Others claim betting just makes sports more exciting, but criticism crosses a dangerous line when it turns into harassment, threats, and cyberbullying.

A local example hits even closer to home. During a homecoming football game in his senior year, Washingtonville High School’s own former quarterback faced a flood of harassment after a simple mistake on the field. One misstep and the abuse rolled in, damaging confidence and turning what should have been a celebration of school spirit into a painful memory.

Unfortunately, this trend is not new and is never ending; it only escalates the more time athletes put into the sport. Famous Olympic gymnast, Simone Biles, became the target of vicious attacks after withdrawing from events to focus on her mental health. If an athlete like Biles can be ridiculed for taking care of herself, imagine the pressure on a teenage player juggling classes, practices, and real life.

The truth? Sports betting is fueling an ugly culture where fans think a lost wager gives them permission to attack athletes. It doesn’t.

Opponents argue that free speech must be protected and they are right, up to a point. Asserting disappointment or frustration is a normal part of sports, however, harassment is not protected speech. Free speech does not mean freedom from consequences when it crosses into threats and abuse.

To address the issue, the NCAA launched the "Draw the Line" campaign in 2024, promoting respect for athletes and providing educational resources, mental health support, and reporting systems for harassment. And this is just the beginning.

Ongoing solutions would include:

Social media companies enforcing quicker bans on abusive accounts.

Betting companies suspending users who harass athletes.

Schools start teaching fans that athletes are human beings, not entertainment props.

Is it fair to demand perfection from those who dedicate their lives to compete and punish them when they fall short? Athletes already battle enough pressure. No one deserves abuse for a bad game, a missed shot, or a mistake. “Draw the line.” End the abuse. Because no score, no point spread, and no broken bet is ever worth breaking a person.