Five major U.S. professional sports leagues and their players' associations have asked state gaming regulators for stronger protections against threats and harassment linked to sports betting.
What the leagues requested
In a September 15, 2026 letter sent to regulators in 35 states and Washington, D.C., the NFL, MLB, MLS, NBA and NHL, together with their players' associations, called for permanent betting exclusions for people verified to have threatened or abusively harassed athletes, coaches, officials or team personnel.
Why sportsbooks are part of the proposal
The groups also called for standardized reporting systems and stronger monitoring by betting operators. The goal is to make it easier to identify abusive accounts across jurisdictions rather than treating every incident as an isolated case.
Why DraftKings is directly relevant
DraftKings is one of the major U.S. sportsbook operators, so any state-level rules affecting operator monitoring, reporting or exclusion systems could apply to its Sportsbook operations. The leagues' letter is a request to regulators, not a new DraftKings-specific rule.
How the issue has grown
Reuters reported that legalized sports wagering has expanded significantly since 2018, while athletes have increasingly faced abuse from bettors upset about wagers. The leagues described threats against players, coaches, officials and families as an escalating problem.
What happens next
State regulators would need to consider the proposed standards and determine how exclusion, reporting and cross-state enforcement should work. Existing exclusion systems already differ between states.
Related: Responsible engagement tools · National expansion.
FAQ
Are lifetime bans already nationwide?
No. The leagues and unions asked regulators to create stronger, more consistent exclusion rules.
Who signed the letter?
The NFL, MLB, MLS, NBA and NHL and their respective players' associations.
Sources: Reuters; Associated Press, September 15, 2026.
