In the era of modern sports gambling, college sports have not been immune to the trappings of the events. What happens when gambling affects student-athletes?
Big Ten Student-Athletes Detail Their Struggles with Bettor Behavior in Sports Gambling
NCAA Charlie Baker received a letter regarding the abusive behavior that Big Ten athletes receive at the hands of bettors. The letter details the levels of harassment.
“The Big Ten Student Athlete Issues Commission sent out this letter to the NCAA on prop bets. Many student-athletes receive angry messages, threats, or public criticism from bettors when wagers do not hit. This kind of treatment is harmful, unnecessary,
and often relentless.”
The letter discusses prop bets. A prop bet is a wager tied to a specific event, rather than the game’s outcome. For example, if a player is expected to catch five passes and the bettor bets on that assumption, and the player tallies at least five receptions, you win.
In other cases, such as an over/under, a player is predicted to make five catches. Bettors can bet the under, meaning they expect the wideout to make four catches. In contrast, if they bet the over, they expect the player to make six catches.
The Big Ten Student Athlete Issues Commission sent out this letter to the NCAA on prop bets. “Many student-athletes receive angry messages, threats, or public criticism from bettors when wagers do not hit. This kind of treatment is harmful, unnecessary,
and often relentless.” pic.twitter.com/66xDE8Vk4U— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 10, 2026
By communicating with the NCAA, the Big Ten athletes want the NCAA to outlaw prop betting to curb overall harassment.
With millions of dollars at stake, emotions run high when athletes do not meet the goals wagered on them; they receive messages and communications from angry bettors like this.
Because most college athletes maintain social media accounts, fans will find them and jump into their messages. Normally, if a college team loses, you will see a mix of sad fans and bettors lobbing expletives at the team.
However, a prop bet personalizes the wager, giving the game an individual face. Even in football, where helmets cover players’ faces, social media brings the groups together. At the professional level, prop bets of all shapes and sizes are the norm.
Last December, the United States Census Bureau released a report that quantified the depth of the increase in sports gambling. From the third quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2025, gambling spending rose from $190 million to $917 million. As a result, attention to the games also increased as bettors, from the recreational to the hardcore, all tried to make money.
Last month, the NCAA released this statement. Whether the suggestion becomes law remains to be seen as the problem continues to grow, along with the money.
