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The widespread legalization of sports betting has predictably led to a new and fairly insufferable reality filled with fans who are not shy about voicing their displeasure if their wagers fail to hit. However, some notable names are pushing back against that trend—a group that now includes the Portland Trail Blazers.
It’s been more than six years since the Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling that opened the door for states across America to legalize sports betting within their borders, and as of this writing, 38 of them (as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico) have done exactly that.
That’s been a fairly welcome change for people with the ability to exercise self-control and enjoy betting in moderation, but there are obviously plenty of others who don’t fall under that umbrella in a world where basically every sports broadcast is plastered with ads and filled with segments urging you to get your gamble on.
This has fostered a toxic environment overflowing with salty bettors who can’t stop themselves from harassing players both online and in real life over a performance that wasn’t conducive to their wagers cashing—an insufferable but fairly natural byproduct of the culture that’s been created by an industry that’s already subject to plenty of regulation but probably needs some more when it comes to addressing its marketing efforts.
Lamar Jackson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant are among the high-profile athletes who’ve made it very clear they could not care less about bets linked to their performance, and now, the social media team for the Portland Trail Blazers has gotten in on the action.
During Tuesday night’s NBA Cup showdown between the Trail Blazers and the Timberwolves, Anfernee Simons headed to the locker room during the first quarter to seek treatment for the chest injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game.
One fan was not happy to learn Simons was done for the night after he scored just a couple of points in the five minutes he was able to play and posted a nonsensical message about injuries ruining sports betting while implying the setback was somehow part of a massive conspiracy to rig games.
The Trail Blazers could have simply ignored those ravings, but someone with the power to respond opted for a slightly more vicious approach.
https://t.co/HsPno5zaga pic.twitter.com/5ygDGv0kwL
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 13, 2024
Well played.