\n<\/p>\n
In the most recent episode of \u201cNo Hesitation,\u201d the podcast she co-hosts with basketball trainer Drew Hanlen, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham claimed she has received hundreds of direct messages from individuals angry that they lost money betting on her.<\/strong><\/p>\n Cunningham remarked on the Thursday-aired episode, commenting, \u201cI could show you, I\u2019m not even kidding, thousands of DMs of people \u2026 getting mad at me because I didn\u2019t do something and they lost a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n She wondered why gamblers would place bets on her instead of Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, or Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever teammates. \u201cWhy are you betting on me? Like, I don\u2019t even know what\u2019s going to happen that game. I don\u2019t have the ball enough to know if I\u2019m going to get one three-point shot or if I\u2019m going to get 10 of them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Hanlen\u2019s question about whether fans overreact to individual performances brought up the subject. During the season, Cunningham replied she mostly avoids X, referring to it as \u201cthe most toxic place.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to betting and gambling, since all that has like really happened and it\u2019s really come into our league as well, fans are so much more vocal about when you don\u2019t perform,\u201d she expressed. \u201cIt\u2019s just something you have to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Cunningham, she makes an effort to concentrate on encouraging messaging. Hanlen expressed his desire for social media users to publish using their true names instead of \u201chiding behind these troll accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n Cunningham\u2019s remarks come after professional leagues sent two letters to state gambling authorities in September.<\/p>\n Cunningham\u2019s comments follow two letters from professional leagues to state gambling regulators in September.<\/p>\n On September 15, regulators in 35 states and the District of Columbia were asked by the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and their players\u2019 unions to impose lifetime betting prohibitions on anyone who harasses or threatens athletes, coaches, officials, or their families. They also requested a simplified process for reporting threats. The WNBPA objected to the absence of the WNBA and its players\u2019 union from that letter.<\/p>\n The NBA and WNBA, along with the unions representing both players and referees, submitted a follow-up letter supporting the same actions on September 24. The letter stated, \u201cMembers of our organizations are facing a marked increase in betting-related harassment and threats, typically from angry bettors who are on the wrong side of a particular wager,\u201d<\/p>\n The NBA and WNBA\u2019s responsible gaming initiative with the National Council on Problem Gambling was previously covered by RG. States where sports betting is permitted can access RG\u2019s guide to Indiana sportsbooks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n