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The NBA and WNBA want state gaming regulators to require lifetime sportsbook bans for bettors who threaten or harass players, coaches, officials or their families.
The leagues joined a wider push from major US sports organizations for tougher rules around betting related abuse. Proposed measures include permanent betting bans, easier reporting to law enforcement and state exclusion lists, and licensing requirements that force sportsbooks to monitor abusive customers.
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The NBA, WNBA, player associations and referee representatives are asking states to create a common response when bettors target game participants.
Under the proposal, sportsbooks would permanently exclude customers who make threats or abuse athletes, coaches and officials. Regulators would also create simpler systems for leagues to report incidents to law enforcement and share names for state exclusion lists.
Some operators have already introduced internal procedures. Fanatics and DraftKings have developed processes for dealing with abusive bettors, but rules still differ between sportsbooks and states.
The NBA and WNBA argue that a mandatory approach would remove that inconsistency.
“While these changes are not a panacea, we believe they will help to deter and punish individuals who engage in betting-related harassment, and will better protect our athletes, coaches, officials, and their families as a result,” league representatives said.
The latest request follows reports from basketball players, officials and coaches of abuse linked to losing bets.
The leagues described incidents ranging from shouted comments inside arenas to violent threats delivered online or in public. Family members have also become targets.
“While this behavior is typically directed at players or other game participants, at times it even extends to family members,” the leagues wrote.
Professional basketball now joins football, baseball, hockey and soccer in asking regulators for a broader industry response. NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS representatives sent their own joint letter earlier in September seeking stronger protections.
The issue also reaches college sports.
The NCAA has spent more than two years asking regulators to restrict college player prop betting, arguing that wagers tied to individual statistics can increase abuse aimed at student athletes.
Indiana took a different approach this week. The Indiana Gaming Commission unanimously rejected an NCAA request to prohibit pregame college player props, while keeping the existing ban on live college player props. Commissioners said the wider harassment problem may require legislative action instead.
Commissioner B.R. Lane said:
“We have a bigger issue here, and the legislature … in my opinion, would be the appropriate place to address that.”
The split highlights two regulatory approaches now developing around sports betting harassment. The NCAA continues seeking restrictions on specific betting markets, while the professional leagues are increasingly focused on identifying and excluding individual bettors who cross into threats or abuse.