Rising Sports Betting Culture Fuels Harassment of European Athletes
The verbal abuse of Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas during a recent track meet in the U.S. has once again drawn attention to the troubling link between the rise in sports betting and the harassment of athletes. Although the incident took place in Philadelphia, the pattern has implications for European sports as similar cases begin to surface across the continent.
Abuse at the Track
Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, reported being followed and insulted by a man while interacting with fans at the Grand Slam Track meet. The sprinter took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out the behavior, referencing a video in which the heckler yells at her during the start of a race:
“You’re a choke artist – you’re going down, Gabby. I made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win.”
This incident has amplified concerns about how the widespread accessibility of online betting platforms may be emboldening individuals to harass athletes in hopes of influencing outcomes. The video showed a screenshot of multi-leg bets placed on FanDuel, highlighting how personal attacks may be driven by gambling-related motives. Similar stories have emerged from other sports, including professional tennis, where athletes such as Caroline Garcia have spoken out against “unhealthy betting” behaviors.
Thomas’s experience also speaks to a wider issue faced by female athletes. Earlier this year, she shared on TikTok that she had been stalked by groups of men in multiple airports, pointing to how increased visibility through social media can invite unwanted and threatening attention. Her case echoes warnings from fellow athletes like Kara Goucher.
“You are exposing the crap that women go through and will eventually help other women as well.”
Implications for European Sport
While this specific case occurred in the United States, European sports bodies are paying close attention. The growing popularity of online sportsbooks across Europe may lead to similar incidents if preventative steps aren’t taken. The convergence of betting, social media, and direct access to athletes creates conditions that could foster harassment if left unchecked.
Incidents like the one involving Thomas are likely to add urgency to discussions among European regulators and sports organizations about the need for stricter controls on gambling-related conduct, particularly around athlete protection. As betting markets continue to expand, safeguarding the mental and physical well-being of sports professionals may become a central focus of policy in both national and EU-wide debates.