NCAA Joins Bad Actor Program to Combat Online Harassment

The NCAA has partnered with the Bad Actor Program, developed by IC360 and Signify Group, to address online harassment targeting student-athletes, coaches, and referees by sports bettors. NCAA President Charlie Baker highlighted the rampant issue, stating that online abuse directed at college sports figures remains a significant concern.

‘Athlete harassment has no place in college sports,’ Baker said. ‘The NCAA is committed to working with stakeholders across the sports betting ecosystem to eradicate this horrific behavior that plagues sports far too often.’ This marks the first time a major sports governing body has joined the Bad Actor Program, with only Fanatics and DraftKings previously aligned with the initiative.

The program identifies and addresses abusive online behavior through social media monitoring, providing organizations with tools to enforce accountability, such as bans from sportsbooks and live events. Recent statistics reveal the extent of the problem: 36% of Division I men’s basketball student-athletes reported experiencing social media abuse related to sports betting in the past year, while 29% interacted with peers who bet on their performance. Overall, 7% of male athletes received negative or threatening messages from bettors, with female athletes experiencing similar but less frequent abuse.

The Bad Actor Program combines Signify’s Threat Matrix, which detects threats across social media, with IC360’s compliance infrastructure to ensure offenders are held accountable through bans, event exclusions, or law enforcement referrals. This initiative follows the NCAA’s 2025 partnership with Venmo to combat betting-related extortion, offering a hotline for student-athletes to report abuse and risking account closure for offenders. Additionally, the NCAA has launched the Draw the Line campaign, featuring a public service announcement titled ‘Don’t Be a Loser,’ to raise awareness about harassment from frustrated bettors.