It's common to see fans, especially those on social media, bash athletes when their bets lose. A number of high profile athletes this week have made it clear to bettors how they feel about those failed wagers.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott addressed the criticism he has received on social media and advised furious bettors to "stop gambling" during a media scrum Tuesday.
He wasn't alone this week. While Prescott took an understanding approach, Kevin Durant humorously pointed out that bettors don't thank him for their betting wins nearly as much as they blame him for the losses. The Phoenix Suns star took to X, formerly Twitter, to put fans on blast.
Durant’s post came a day after a double-overtime win against UtahJazz that ended in some controversy. Officials overturned a foul call on Durant with 0.2 seconds left that would have sent Lauri Markkanen to line to shoot three free throws and the Jazz lost 140-137.
Athletes aren't just uninterested in your parlays, either. They're putting fantasy managers on notice, too.
MinnesotaVikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson went on social media to alert fans that he doesn't want to hear about their fantasy teams as he gets ramped up to return off injured reserve.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson went off on fans hours after the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 6 win over the TennesseeTitans. The Ravens covered the spread, while Jackson completed 21-of-30 passes for 223 yards in addition to 13 carries for 62 yards on the ground.
It hasn't been all jokes via social between athletes and fans, though. Suns guard Bradley Beal got into an altercation with a fan as a member of the Washington Wizards at Amway Center earlier this year.
Kyler Briffa filed a civil lawsuit against Beal for assault and battery, seeking over $50,000 in damages after he claims Beal hit him on the head, mistaking him for a friend who reportedly hurled insults at Beal over a lost wager.
"Nobody wants to lose money,” Beal said after the incident, according to ESPN. “I get it. If you keep it about sports, I'm all for it. But I think it's when people start getting personal, talking about your family, talking about your character, your integrity towards the game. I think all of that, we can save it. We can really keep those comments to ourselves."
Losing a bet can be frustrating. But it's up to us as bettors and fans not to take those frustrations out on the players. Ideally, as Dak alluded to, betting is entertainment. Very few people will make money betting over the long-term.
So understanding that and not belittling players when a bet doesn't hit is an important part of responsible gaming — something we take very seriously.
Did you know legal betting is coming to the Tar Heel State? North Carolina sports betting is coming online in 2024, so you’ll be able to bet wager legally at major sportsbooks in NC. Learn more.
