Gambling addiction among athletes is a silent tsunami threatening sports
COMMENT: Athletes are more vulnerable to gambling addiction than the general population which can lead to criminal behaviour and match-fixing. The rise in gambling addiction amongst athletes needs to be countered by actions by authorities, betting companies, and sports organisations, argues Corentin Segalen.
In October 2017, an 18-year-old tennis player received a strange message on social media by someone under the alias “Aucun Blasa” (‘no name’ in French slang). The unknown guy offered him 1,000 euros to lose the first set of a Futures tournament in Mulhouse with the exact score of 6-0.
The player reported the message to the National Platform against sports manipulation, and the perpetrator was sentenced in July 2018 to a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year probation period, coupled with a mandatory treatment program for gambling addiction.
This case was the first-ever conviction in France for sports manipulation, and it unveiled a broader issue: how does gambling addiction among athletes fuel the manipulation of sports competitions, and what solutions can be proposed to safeguard the integrity of sports?
Beneath this question lies a troubling reality: athletes are more vulnerable to gambling addiction than the general population, and this vulnerability can lead them to take risky actions.
The growing wave of gambling addiction in sports
The data is striking. According to a study published by EU Athletes in 2016, professional athletes are four times more likely to develop a gambling addiction than the general population. But what makes them so vulnerable?
Several factors come into play.
First, athletes often operate in environments where isolation is frequent, largely due to intensive training schedules and constant travel. In such contexts, gambling can appear as a form of escape or entertainment.
Second, their competitive mindset - an essential trait for their career - can backfire. This relentless pursuit of winning fosters an illusion of control, particularly in sports betting, where they believe their expertise gives them an edge.
Additionally, social media and digital platforms amplify this vulnerability. Athletes, who are hyperconnected, are exposed to omnipresent advertising by sports betting operators, which normalises the practice and makes it highly accessible.
Recent figures highlight the scale of the issue. According to the Daily Mail, 35 Premier League players were treated for gambling addiction in 2023. The figures are also worrying in France, where sportsmen and women are banned from betting on their own sport.
Athletes are often exposed to advertising by sports betting operators, which normalises gambling and makes it highly accessible. Photo: Jack Thomas WWFC /Getty Images
In France, the law allows the National Gambling Authority (ANJ) to proceed to cross-file checking at the request of sports competition organisers to check whether the ban is being respected, The number of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 players identified in such cross-referenced sports betting files has increased fivefold in four years (30 in 2019 versus 150 in 2023).
This phenomenon is not confined to professional sports: alarming signs of gambling addiction are also emerging in U.S. university sports.
Gambling addiction fuels the manipulation of sports competitions
Gambling addiction is not merely a personal issue; it can also lead to criminal behaviours. Legal case studies abound with examples of individuals who, overwhelmed by gambling debts, embezzled funds or committed theft to satisfy their addiction.
In sports, this vulnerability often translates into match-fixing. Scandals such as the “Calciocommesse” in Italy or the Bochum case in Germany are glaring examples. In these incidents, many implicated athletes or referees were burdened by gambling debts and became easy targets for criminal networks, which coerced them into rigging matches.
Even without outright match manipulation, some athletes under financial strain may be tempted to sell confidential information—such as details about their physical condition or team strategies—in exchange for money. Although less spectacular, such practices also undermine the integrity of sports.
Actions and solutions to addiction and manipulation
In response to this dual problem, targeted actions are necessary to protect both athletes and the integrity of sports competitions.
- Public authorities should set up tailored prevention and support: Current approaches to tackling gambling addiction must be tailored to specifically address athletes, considering the factors that make them more vulnerable. Athletes dealing with gambling addiction or sports manipulation should have access to specialised support and treatment programs.
- Sports organisations should strengthen the prohibition for athletes to bet on their own sports: The systematic cross-file checking of data between sports organisations and regulatory authorities should be reinforced. Sports federations could encourage athletes to register on gambling exclusion lists if applicable in the countries where they are based to protect themselves.
- The betting industry should limit betting commercials: Sports betting operators should be compelled to avoid normalising gambling and limit advertisements targeting young athletes. Using athletes in gambling advertising campaigns should be prohibited to prevent the glorification of such practices.
Gambling addiction is a silent tsunami threatening the sports world. It weakens athletes, compromises the integrity of competitions, and opens the door to criminal networks.
However, although this phenomenon is alarming, it is not inevitable. Through coordinated action by sports federations, regulators, and governments, it is possible to counter this trend. Preserving the integrity of sports also means protecting its primary stakeholders: the athletes.
