Major US Leagues Seek Lifetime Bans for Abusive Bettors

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Wed Sep 16, 2026, 10:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Major US Leagues Seek Lifetime Bans for Abusive Bettors

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Five major US professional sports leagues and their players' unions are urging state gaming regulators to strengthen protections against abusive bettors.

The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS joined their respective players' associations in a Sept. 15 letter. The groups called for uniform rules addressing threats and harassment linked to sports betting.

The joint effort comes as legal sports wagering continues to expand across the US. The leagues said bettors increasingly target athletes, coaches, officials and their families after losing wagers. They also want regulators to create consistent enforcement standards across state markets.

Five Major US Leagues Push for Stronger Protections

The joint letter sent to state gaming regulators was signed by MLB and the MLB Players Association. Major League Soccer and its players' union also signed the document.

The NBA, NBPA, NFL, NFLPA, NHL and NHLPA joined them. Together, the organizations asked regulators to address what they described as an escalating threat.

The groups specifically cited threats sent through social media and in-person interactions. They said those incidents can involve players, coaches, officials and their families.

"Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line, and it is entirely unacceptable," the leagues wrote in the statement.

The proposed rules would apply to professional and amateur sports participants. The organizations also want protections to extend to team personnel and their families.

Lifetime Bans Could Target Abusive Bettors

The leagues and unions want states to permanently exclude people confirmed to have threatened or abused sports personnel.

Under the proposal, regulators would maintain statewide exclusion lists containing verified bad actors. The groups also want those lists shared between states.

Such a system could prevent a banned bettor from moving to another jurisdiction. It would also create a more consistent framework for licensed operators.

The leagues said state and local officials should adopt uniform rules and legislative safeguards. Their letter specifically pointed to several states that already maintain exclusionary systems.

"It is critical that state and local leaders safeguard the participants of sports at all levels," the groups wrote.

"While some states like Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Wyoming already maintain exclusionary lists that ban bad actors from licensed sportsbooks and mobile applications, we call on all state gaming commissions and state policymakers to promptly adopt uniform rules and legislative guardrails to help address this behavior."

Sportsbooks Could Face Greater Monitoring Duties

The proposal would also place additional responsibilities on licensed sportsbooks. Regulators could make licensing conditional on operators monitoring abusive behavior.

Operators would need to identify, flag and ban accounts linked to verified threats. They could also share relevant evidence with regulators and law enforcement.

That approach could create new expectations for US online sportsbooks operating across multiple states. It would also require closer coordination between sportsbooks, leagues, teams and gaming regulators.

Some operators already have measures designed to address abusive customers. BetMGM announced a zero-tolerance policy in February and said it could suspend accounts when necessary.

Meanwhile, Fanatics Sportsbook partnered with IC360 and Signify Group on a Bad Actor Program. The initiative aims to identify and prevent problematic users from creating accounts or placing wagers.

States Could Move Toward Shared Exclusion Lists

The leagues' proposal seeks to build on those existing initiatives rather than create an entirely new industry response.

Several states already use exclusion mechanisms for certain betting-related misconduct. However, the leagues argue that inconsistent rules leave gaps between jurisdictions.

A shared system could address that issue by allowing regulators to identify banned bettors across state lines. It could also give operators a standardized process for reporting verified threats.

The request comes as professional sports organizations continue expanding their commercial relationships with betting companies. Those relationships include sportsbook partnerships involving league trademarks, official data and marketing rights.

MLB, MLS and the NHL also have prediction-market partnerships involving companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket. Those relationships have drawn separate scrutiny from lawmakers.

For now, the proposed framework remains a request to state regulators. Gaming commissions and lawmakers will determine whether new rules or legislation follow the leagues' call for standardized protections.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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