Sports betting culture negatively impacts athletes’ mental health
The NCAA has published a story with a simple message describing the nature of sports betting‘s effect on student-athletes.
“It’s a mental health nightmare,” Saquandra Heath, NCAA communications staffer, wrote.
With the rise of legal sports gambling, more fans leave direct messages or comments under players’ social media posts demanding particular performances so they can make more money.
“To half the world, I’m just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever,” Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said on May 19. “I’m a prop. That’s what my social media mostly consists of. I think it’s important we have someone we can talk to.
“It can be funny sometimes because someone will tell me they lost $1,000, and I’m just like, ‘I don’t give a f—.’ I do think it’s important for us to have conversations with people who really value who we are as human beings.”
I also asked #Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton specifically about speaking to a sports psychologist, and he noted in his response how sports betting has consumed a lot of his social media.
“To half the world, I’m just helping them make money on DraftKings or whatever. I’m a prop.“ pic.twitter.com/6f2a0vEuiK
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) March 20, 2024
It was also something Sacramento Kings guards Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter spoke out about.
“I don’t care about y’all parlays,” Monk posted on X.
Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter do NOT care about your parlays 😂 pic.twitter.com/EDhZbHzbqe
— br_betting (@br_betting) November 9, 2023
Before direct legal sports betting went mainstream, many NFL players, particularly, dealt with fan harassment on social media about their fantasy football leagues. This current epidemic is similar, just now at a larger volume.
According to a February study by Seton Hall University, 49% of self-described sports fans have placed a bet at some point in their lives, up from 41% in 2022.
If you or a loved one has a gambling addiction, please contact the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline for help.
