[Wiretap] Survey by "The Athletic" says 46% of NBA players polled don't approve the league's relationship with gambling

[GSWFan1994]

Nearly Half Of NBA Players View Gambling Partnerships As Bad For League

A significant percentage of NBA players expressed strong opposition to the league's gambling partnerships in an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, with 46% of respondents stating these relationships are bad for the league.

The Athletic surveyed nearly one-third of the entire NBA with 150 of 158 approached players participating, revealing serious concerns about how sports betting has affected their experiences both during games and in their personal lives.

The NBA has expanded its gambling presence since the Supreme Court opened the door to legalized sports betting almost seven years ago, formalizing partnerships with FanDuel and DraftKings in 2021, while numerous teams have established separate deals with casino operators.

Players expressing negative views predominantly cited harassment from bettors, with many reporting they regularly receive abusive messages, threats, and racial slurs from fans who lost money on their performances. The growing hostility has led some players to fear potential physical threats.

"Terrible. Hate them. Every game, no matter if it's a good game or bad game, you've got motherf—— sending death threats, saying racist s—... I hope it doesn't happen, but it's going to come to a point where players are going to be targeted because people have lost so much money on them," said one player.

Many players expressed frustration over what they perceive as a shift in fan engagement from appreciation of the game to purely financial interest.

"I don't think gambling ever is a good thing in sports. People stop watching us for what we do and only to make money for themselves. It takes a hit on the integrity of what we do out there," one player commented.

Some players pointed to an apparent contradiction in the league's approach, noting that the NBA severely punished Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for betting activities while simultaneously promoting gambling to fans. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has also been under federal investigation, though the league has cleared him of wrongdoing.

Players with favorable views of the partnerships primarily cited increased revenue and viewership.

"I think it brings more eyes to the game, especially in the regular season. Obviously, you have die-hard fans, but you need more people just watching to watch NBA basketball," one player noted, acknowledging that higher viewership potentially leads to increased player salaries.

A smaller percentage of players took a neutral stance, recognizing both business benefits and negative social impacts.

"Business-wise, and money-wise, it's good. But player-fan relationship (wise), it's horrible," summarized one player.

"I personally hate gambling. Hate everyone talking about parlays this, parlays that. I hate getting DMs in my Instagram talking about, 'You f—– up my parlay.' I hate people sending me threats because I messed up their parlay," added another player, illustrating the direct personal impact of the league's gambling relationships.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I don't, but I don't set the moral standards for a sport's leagues. Gambling should have more restrictions in society, similar to tobacco/smoking.

[ChumboChappati]

So, 46% of NBA players want the NBA to remove the current owners of the Dallas Mavs, who are a gambling family? Don't think Adam Silver will agree with this. In fact, we will see more gambling families getting involved in running the teams.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

Was hoping American sports leagues would be the one part of the world not consumed by gambling and foreign investment fund money. This money to some degree is covering up the organic growth of these leagues, contracts with legacy media probably isn't paying as much as they wanted and might not be around forever.

[UcanUwill]

So, 46% of NBA players want the NBA to remove the current owners of the Dallas Mavs, who are a gambling family? Don't think Adam Silver will agree with this. In fact, we will see more gambling families getting involved in running the teams.

I am pretty sure more than 46% of NBA player would want to remove Adelsons...

As for gampling, you can understand players hating on it, since they get death threats from idiots who lose their stupid bets. That said, gambling is just that, it is something adult person should be allowed to do, I find it sad that a country that champions for owning guns as their right and freedom, goes at gambling as right that is below tools to kill in every idiots pocket.

Now, should Sports leagues partner with betting agencies is another story, but in history, basically everyone who offered most cash was able to be a sponsor of sports leagues, so its nothing new.

[azcatz11]

Was hoping American sports leagues would be the one part of the world not consumed by gambling and foreign investment fund money. This money to some degree is covering up the organic growth of these leagues, contracts with legacy media probably isn't paying as much as they wanted and might not be around forever.

Exactly. Look at PIF and how much they support golf, tennis, etc. That will trickle down to NBA...maybe it already has. These gambling companies are flush with cash and are huge sponsors. Unfortunately the players are completely screwed and will have to deal with this forever

[ReggiesKnicks]

So, 46% of NBA players want the NBA to remove the current owners of the Dallas Mavs, who are a gambling family? Don't think Adam Silver will agree with this. In fact, we will see more gambling families getting involved in running the teams.

I am pretty sure more than 46% of NBA player would want to remove Adelsons...

As for gampling, you can understand players hating on it, since they get death threats from idiots who lose their stupid bets. That said, gambling is just that, it is something adult person should be allowed to do, I find it sad that a country that champions for owning guns as their right and freedom, goes at gambling as right that is below tools to kill in every idiots pocket.

Now, should Sports leagues partner with betting agencies is another story, but in history, basically everyone who offered most cash was able to be a sponsor of sports leagues, so its nothing new.

So I assume you are talking about the United States here. There are restrictions surrounding guns. There are very few restrictions regarding gambling.

Most people want to see restrictions around fire arms and gambling.

[ronnymac2]

And 54% are getting paaaiiidddddd...

[Tor_Raps]

I just don't like it shoved down our throats. Gambling ruins families the same way alcohol/drugs/cigarettes does. I don't need to be told every 2 minutes about any of these things lol

[TheAlchemist]

There is a plethora of data about the relationship of gambling and addiction / mental health issues.

There is a lo of data about crime and gambling as well.

But do billion dollar enterprises actually care about long term, non traceable effects of a product? No. Not at all.

And that's what the NBA and other sports leagues are doing. Hey, got a gambling problem America? Get help! Don't blame us for the product!

Got game fixing and illegal activities tied to gambling? Bad Criminals! Lock them up and throw away the key! Don't blame us though!

[UcanUwill]

So, 46% of NBA players want the NBA to remove the current owners of the Dallas Mavs, who are a gambling family? Don't think Adam Silver will agree with this. In fact, we will see more gambling families getting involved in running the teams.

I am pretty sure more than 46% of NBA player would want to remove Adelsons...

As for gampling, you can understand players hating on it, since they get death threats from idiots who lose their stupid bets. That said, gambling is just that, it is something adult person should be allowed to do, I find it sad that a country that champions for owning guns as their right and freedom, goes at gambling as right that is below tools to kill in every idiots pocket.

Now, should Sports leagues partner with betting agencies is another story, but in history, basically everyone who offered most cash was able to be a sponsor of sports leagues, so its nothing new.

So I assume you are talking about the United States here. There are restrictions surrounding guns. There are very few restrictions regarding gambling.

Most people want to see restrictions around fire arms and gambling.

What restrictions are on gambling and which ones are missing, if you have an opinion?

Over where I live, only adults can gamble for starters, and there are also firewalls for gambling addicts, I believe anyone can lock themselves from gambling if they have a problem, as you need o identify yourself anytime you place a bet. And I believe other specialists, like doctors, psychiatrists maybe can put a lock on your gambling. I think that is minimum that needs to be done with gambling in any country, but I do also believe that gambling is a right that people should have.

[og15]

Many of us fans have expressed the same sentiment. I'm not saying people should not be allowed to gamble, but I agree that the NBA should not be in bed with the gambling industries and heavily promoting it and shoving it down fans throats like they are.

I also agree, gambling changes how people interact with the sport, and of course there's always been gambling, but when it's so prevalent and pushed so heavily, it's a blight on the sport, and being real, it's an accepted blight on society.

[UcanUwill]

I just don't like it shoved down our throats. Gambling ruins families the same way alcohol/drugs/cigarettes does. I don't need to be told every 2 minutes about any of these things lol

I do defend gambling, but it is sad that every basketball show and podcast is sponsored by them. You know they offer the biggest money, so I always respect shows that never featured gambling ads, like NoDunks for example, because we know they get offers to do that every day. They just do not want to be sponsored by them and you got to respect it.

It is the same thing with predatory mobile game ads in every gaming youtuber videos. You know who takes that dirty money and who doesn't. because they all get these offers.

[Onus]

I do wonder if there's a cultural shift that can happen in America, with this fight against oligarchy stuff. Just because someone can make money from something doesn't mean it's good for society.

Will players be ok with not making as much money? Contracts not always rising?

[Chuck Everett]

Means nothing, since no one will actually go on record. With guaranteed contracts, you'd think they would, but those NDA's would probably get them fined.

[sp6r=underrated]

I fully agree with the 46%. I got this issue wrong. Commercialized, sports betting will prove to be a disaster for society. And in 2060 it will be seen as shameful as the promotion of cigarettes. I'm just disgusted when I watch NBA games and they give you live odds or encourage you to bet on the scores of quarters. Just gross.

We're going to have a lot of needless poverty, bankruptcy, petty crime and domestic violence due to this product.

Why did I get this issue wrong?

I didn't appreciate that smartphone sports betting isn't like 2 guys placing a bet in the bar but instead is equivalant to a 24/7 casino hooked up to all a person's bank accounts/credit. And this 24/7 casino has some of the world finest tech developers and psychologists working to ensure the product is maximally addictive.

[jbk1234]

It's pretty gross how every network that covers the NBA has a segment on which prop bets their commentators are covering.

[chilluminati]

Gambling is cancerous to your brain. Period.

I HATE how much gambling rhetoric is shoved down our throats. All of these betting lines, expert betting analysts, manipulative commercials, etc etc I could go on with the examples but it's not a good look, it's scummy.

It's changed our sport and how fans interact with it, in a negative way. I don't even want the fans that gambling attracted to the sport, because they're mentally ugly and ignorant. It's just the truth. If you started watching this sport to bet on it, I sincerely hope you can find other hobbies in a much healthier way.

I might seem judgemental, but this is something we've deemed as bad for humans before, but have eased up on our morals for profit. It's ugly

[Onus]

It's pretty gross how every network that covers the NBA has a segment on which prop bets their commentators are covering.

And all their prop bets that they give out are terrible.

[Snakebites]

I don’t like it. I don’t like that where there used to be useful scores and sports related news, there are now betting lines.

I don’t like that sideline reporters are reporting on betting lines instead of stuff I might be interested in hearing about.

I don’t like that commercials are flooded with multiple different betting books.

Yes I do have a moral problem with it. But I also find it intrusive to the viewing experience.