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The Michigan Gaming Control Board is welcoming a new industry effort to crack down on bettors who threaten or harass athletes, even before regulators have dug into the program’s specifics.
Lisa Keith, public information officer for the MGCB, told PlayMichigan on Tuesday:
“While we haven’t yet reviewed the specific details of Fanatics’ new program, the Michigan Gaming Control Board welcomes efforts by licensed operators to strengthen protections for athletes, coaches, and others who may be targeted with harassment related to sports betting.”
Keith’s comment comes in response to Fanatics Sportsbook‘s new partnership with Integrity Compliance 360, Inc. (IC360) and also Signify Group on a “Bad Actor Program,” an initiative that will monitor online abuse and threats from bettors toward athletes, coaches, and officials using IC360’s ProhiBet BA technology alongside Signify’s Threat Matrix service.
What the program does
The Bad Actor Program tracks online harassment and threats directed at athletes, coaches, and officials by Fanatics customers. IC360 will collaborate with Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service to monitor bad behavior across multiple platforms.
Subjects of harassment are able to report abusive DMs directly. Once Signify can determine the severity then can escalate serious cases. That can include law enforcement when conduct may cross criminal thresholds.
Other Michigan sports betting operators are welcomed to use the list the Bad Actor Program generates. It’s similar to how IC360’s existing ProhiBet platform works with players and coaches.
Scott Sadin, co-CEO of IC360, said in a statement:
“Threats of violence and harassment in sports at arenas and on social media are increasing at an alarming rate, undermining the integrity of the sports betting industry.
“Addressing the individuals with ProhiBet BA and Threat Matrix is crucial to protecting athletes and other stakeholders from serious, long-term harm.”
The tool is expected to launch ahead of the NFL betting and college football betting seasons.
Industry support
Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group, praised the move, saying Fanatics is taking a leadership stance on an issue many of Signify’s global sports clients have pushed operators to address.
The program reflects a broader industry push toward responsible gambling and stronger protections for athletes and game participants amid rising concerns about bettor harassment. Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, is hoping other operators follow suit.
“This groundbreaking program will hold bettors accountable for threats made against players, coaches, and officials. It falls in line with our core values at Fanatics – respect and tolerance for the athletes and coaches that play the games that we love.
“We encourage other operators to join the initiative because there is no sports betting potential loss that should embolden a sports betting customer to threaten or harass an athlete online.”
Read more: For a full list of current Michigan sports wagering bonuses, see our Michigan sports betting promos page.
