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Venmo Establishes a Helpline to Safeguard NCAA Athletes from Betting-related Intimidation

Sports financial platform Venmo collaborates with the NCAA to establish a hotline, aiming to safeguard student-athletes from unwanted harassment by sports gamblers. Stricter surveillance and reporting of suspicious activities to the relevant authorities are promised as part of this endeavor.

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Venmo Establishes a Hotline to Safeguard NCAA Athletes from Unsolicited Sports Gambling Pressure
Venmo Establishes a Hotline to Safeguard NCAA Athletes from Unsolicited Sports Gambling Pressure

Venmo Partners with NCAA to Protect College Athletes from Harassment

In a significant move to safeguard college athletes from harassment tied to sports betting, Venmo, the popular PayPal-owned payment platform, has announced a new initiative in collaboration with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The partnership, which was activated on Tuesday, aims to combat targeted harassment of athletes and establishes a reporting hotline for NCAA athletes. This initiative comes as the NCAA has documented a link between sports betting and targeted harassment of athletes, with 12% of cases being related.

Under the new initiative, Venmo will be closing accounts that violate its policies and will implement ongoing account monitoring to prevent such targeted harassment. The company will also distribute guides, newsletters, and learning modules explaining how to use reporting tools effectively.

NCAA President Charlie Baker has applauded Venmo's partnership, believing that stopping this abuse requires action on multiple fronts. Baker has also called for more social media companies and online platforms to take action against this abuse, as football players account for nearly 19% of abuse cases tied to bettors.

Several states have already passed laws to crack down on this behavior to protect student-athletes. Baker has been vocal in his support for these measures and has expressed his hope that other companies will follow Venmo's lead in taking a stand against this issue.

In a statement, Baker said, "We are pleased to see Venmo taking a proactive approach to protect our student-athletes from harassment. This partnership is an important step in our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and fair environment for all athletes."

By implementing this initiative, Venmo hopes to create a safer and more secure platform for all its users, particularly college athletes who may be at risk of targeted harassment due to their athletic performance. The company's efforts are a testament to its commitment to promoting a positive and respectful community for all its users.

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