Fanatics, IC360 and Signify launch joint initiative targeting abusive bettors

Fanatics Sportsbook has partnered with Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and Signify Group to launch a program aimed at identifying sports bettors who abuse or threaten athletes, coaches and officials online, with offenders facing account suspension or permanent termination.

The Bad Actor Program will begin at the start of the football season and combines Signify Group’s Threat Matrix social media monitoring service with IC360’s ProhiBet platform to identify individuals who post abusive, threatening, defamatory or harassing content targeting sports figures.

Under the initiative, Signify’s Threat Matrix will monitor public posts across platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, as well as review abusive direct messages reported by athletes and officials. Cases deemed serious will be investigated further, with potential criminal conduct referred to law enforcement.

Individuals identified through the monitoring process will be added to IC360’s ProhiBet Bad Actor platform, enabling participating sportsbooks to restrict or block wagering accounts.

Fanatics Sportsbook, the first legal sports betting operator to join the initiative, said it will suspend or permanently terminate accounts found to have engaged in abusive or threatening conduct toward athletes, coaches or officials.

Matt King, Chief Executive Officer of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, said the initiative is intended to hold bettors accountable for online threats against sports figures.

“This groundbreaking program will hold bettors accountable for threats made against players, coaches, and officials,” King said. “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.”

The program is designed to create an industry-wide network capable of identifying repeat offenders and preventing them from opening accounts or placing wagers across participating sportsbooks.

In addition to supporting betting operators, the program will share intelligence and evidence with sports leagues and teams to help them respond to threats directed at athletes.

Scott Sadin, Co-Chief Executive Officer of IC360, said rising levels of online harassment and threats are undermining confidence in the sports betting industry.

“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,” Sadin said. “Addressing the individuals with ProhiBet BA and Threat Matrix is crucial to protecting athletes and other stakeholders from serious, long-term harm.” 

Jonathan Hirshler, Chief Executive Officer of Signify Group, said the partnership responds to growing calls from sports organizations for betting operators to take stronger action against online abuse.

“We commend Fanatics Sportsbook for taking a leadership position on an issue that affects athletes across every sport,” he added. “This is a clear message to anyone who believes threatening, harassing or abusing athletes online is simply part of being a fan: it is not.”

The initiative is intended both to deter abusive behavior and demonstrate that online threats against athletes can be detected, investigated and acted upon.