Tennis governing bodies are pushing for stronger measures against online abuse by urging gambling companies to suspend the betting accounts of individuals who target female players. This move follows a report revealing that a significant portion of abuse directed at female tennis players stems from disgruntled gamblers, with 40% of social media abuse linked to betting-related frustration. Among those directly targeted, many received threats and explicit content, with some messages expressing vile sentiments such as death threats and family desecration.
The report analyzed over 8,000 abusive posts from more than 4,200 accounts, using AI-driven monitoring systems. It found that abuse was especially concentrated on a small group of players, with 26% of offensive messages directed at just five individuals. Shockingly, 77% of the abuse on players’ personal accounts came from people identified as gamblers. While 15 of the worst offenders have been reported to police and banned from attending major tennis events, officials remain concerned about the reluctance of gambling companies to take meaningful action.
However, recent developments suggest some progress. Meetings between tennis bodies and betting firms have increased in frequency, with certain operators signaling readiness to close accounts of abusive customers. Additionally, tennis leaders are pressing gambling companies to contribute to educational initiatives to tackle online hate.
One major gambling firm has already amended its terms to include the right to suspend users who harass athletes. A newly added clause grants the company discretion to suspend or terminate accounts if a user is deemed a threat to the safety of sports participants or found engaging in harassment. These changes reflect a growing recognition within the industry of its role in combatting online abuse.
Authorities are also exploring the potential use of a national self-exclusion database to track individuals who harass players. Originally intended to prevent problem gamblers from accessing betting platforms, this database could also help ensure known abusers are excluded industry-wide.
The tennis community is calling for a coordinated and robust response. There is growing support for lifetime bans from betting platforms for individuals who target players online. The overarching goal is to protect athletes and cleanse the sport of toxicity tied to gambling. With heightened scrutiny and public pressure, tennis authorities hope the betting industry will act decisively and responsibly in the face of this persistent issue.
