Venmo Keeps an Eye Out for Misuse from Irate Sports Gamblers
In the world of college sports, the upcoming football season is generating excitement, with marquee matchups on the horizon. However, a less welcome aspect has come to light – the harassment of student-athletes online, particularly from angry sports bettors.
One of the most popular payment services on college campuses, Venmo, has acknowledged the issue and is taking proactive steps to limit such incidents. The company will monitor student-athletes' accounts on an ongoing basis and offer a reporting hotline for cyberbullying.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has praised Venmo's efforts and is encouraging state gaming regulators to prohibit odds that are based solely on a single student-athlete's play, known as player props. Baker has also called for fans to improve their behaviour online.
Notable athletes such as Scottie Scheffler, the world's best golfer, have spoken out about the harassment they've faced on Venmo. In response, the platform will provide a "best practices guide" for student-athletes to protect their accounts from harassment. This guide will be distributed through NCAA channels, including email and e-learning modules.
As for the football season, Week 1 begins on Saturday with No. 1 Texas visiting No. 3 Ohio State. Interestingly, Texas is the first preseason No. 1 to be an underdog in their first game, with Ohio State being two-point favourites. The over/under for the game is at 47.5 points.
Another notable game this weekend is No. 9 LSU playing at No. 4 Clemson, with Clemson being a four-point favourite. On Sunday, No. 6 Notre Dame plays at No. 10 Miami, with the Fighting Irish being 2.5-point favourites.
In a joint effort to combat harassment, Venmo and the NCAA will also be releasing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about the risks of making payment requests to student-athletes regarding sports bets. The NCAA Board of Governors, most recently chaired by Dr. Linda Livingstone, has been actively involved in governance and rulemaking to protect student-athletes from online abuse.
As the football season kicks off, it's clear that both Venmo and the NCAA are committed to ensuring a safer environment for student-athletes online.
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