Furious Bettors: Katie Boulter Urges Betting Firms to Tackle Online Abuse of Athletes

British tennis star Katie Boulter has disclosed that she received death threats online, aimed at her and her family during her participation in Roland-Garros. This concerning revelation comes as the WTA and ITF urge betting firms to take stronger measures to prevent the rampant online abuse athletes encounter across social media platforms.

Boulter, engaged to Australian world No.12 Alex de Minaur, shared her thoughts in a BBC interview, expressing that online harassment has become a standard issue and believes that many of these hostile messages originate from individuals who have wagered on tennis matches.

Her remarks were timely, coinciding with the release of the WTA and ITF’s inaugural comprehensive report on online abuse, which revealed that 458 tennis players faced over 8000 instances of abusive comments and posts on social media in 2024. Alarmingly, it was noted that 40 per cent of the abuse stemmed from “angry gamblers.”

Boulter, currently ranked 39th, reported that the threatening messages aimed at her family were received during her opening match against Carole Monnet at Roland-Garros. Despite losing the first-set tiebreaker, Boulter bounced back to win the match 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1.

The backlash following the tiebreaker loss incited a wave of vitriol.

Among the messages, one read: “Hope you get cancer.” Another horrifically threatened to harm her “grandmother’s grave if she’s not dead by tomorrow” and promised “candles and a coffin for your entire family.” Yet another said: “Go to hell, I lost money my mother sent me.”

Boulter, who showed the BBC screenshots of the messages, expressed her concern regarding the impact of such widespread abuse on younger players in the sport.

“As a tennis player, my priority is to advocate for younger athletes and help them navigate this challenging environment,” Boulter stated.

“Every time I check my phone, the issue becomes increasingly evident. The volume and nature of the comments seem to escalate significantly. There appears to be no bounds to what people can say now.”

Boulter has attempted to engage with some of her critics to encourage them to reflect on their words.

“I’ve tried sending them some kind messages, hoping they might pause and reconsider their actions,” she explained.

“Often, I receive responses such as, ‘Oh no, I’m a huge fan. I’m genuinely sorry! I didn’t mean to send that; it was just an emotional moment. I still support you and think you’re amazing.’

“They often don’t realise the severity of their words and the impact they have on others.”

Many other players have reported similar experiences of online harassment. In an effort to safeguard athletes, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and the United States Tennis Association launched the Threat Matrix program in 2023.

This initiative monitors publicly accessible social accounts for abusive and threatening behaviour, while also offering support resources for players.

The report detailing findings from the Threat Matrix revealed that a mere five players were responsible for 26 per cent of the total abuse documented, with 97 accounts contributing to 23 per cent of all identified abuse.

In total, more than 4200 accounts sent threatening, abusive, or violent comments directed at players.

“Measures have been implemented against the most serious and frequent offenders, with 15 accounts referred to law enforcement,” the joint statement from the WTA and ITF confirmed.

Jessica Pegula, ranked third in the world and a member of the WTA Players’ Council, emphasised the necessity for tennis authorities to address this critical issue.

“Online abuse is intolerable, and no player should endure such treatment,” Pegula stated. “The gambling industry and social media platforms must confront the issue at its roots and take action to safeguard everyone facing these threats.”