Sports bettors who lose their wagers tip into racism

• Racial abuse against athletes increases, in many cases, stoked by people losing their sports wagers
• Some observers have called the current level of social media abuse a new record
• Athletes and international watchdogs have called for tougher measures against the abusers

Investigations by The Athletic and The New York Times have explored how the rise of sports betting is reshaping gamblers’ attitudes toward athletes, with reports of racial abuse increasing in the Premier League.

Athletes are continually abused over their skin color in sports betting cases

Sports fans, affected by gambling losses, have taken to social media and targeted various athletes - both professional and college-level - whom they blame for performing too badly - or even, too well, leading to a negative outcome for the gambler.

Among those targeted with racial slurs are Chelsea’s defender Wesley Fofana, Burnley’s midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, as well as Romaine Mundle, among some of the athletes to have been profiled and subjected to racist remarks.

In some cases, those remarks went so far as to have athletes called "f***ing n*****." This attitude has been proliferating with the advance of sports gambling, and the activity is becoming far more accessible.

According to Kick It Out, an anti-racism campaigner, online abuse against athletes has risen by 44% during the 2025-2026 Premier League season, setting a new record.

These abusers have relied on their anonymity to issue insults, but they have often resorted to threats of physical violence or worse.

Abusers hide behind their online accounts and anonymity

Women have been particularly vulnerable to abuse brought on by people losing wagers and feeling like they should take it out on professional athletes.

From tennis players to ice skaters to college student-athletes, women have been targeted all over the place. Social media abuse of athletes is tied to losing wagers in at least 40% of the cases, according to a report by Signify Group.

Many of these abusers, in the meantime, are left scot-free, with international watchdogs and local associations, such as the NCAA, calling for concrete measures against abusers - from suspending them from attending sports events to facing criminal and civil charges.

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