The NFL, NBA, MLS, NHL and MLB are banding together to crack down on betting-related harassment of players, coaches and families in their respective sports. The leagues — and their respective unions — put out a joint statement Tuesday suggesting punishments for those who engage in harassment due to betting.

The statement was written to address individuals who “direct threatening and harassing messages toward players, coaches and their families via social media and in-person interactions.”

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The leagues continued:

“Threatening the safety of an athlete of their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line, and it is entirely unacceptable.”

After laying out the issue, the leagues suggested a number of actions the State Gaming Commissions and Regulatory Authorities could take to curb that type of behavior from fans.

They include:

• Mandatory lifetime ban: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should create clear rules that could result in lifetime bans for fans who harass or issue threats of violence against athletes or others around the game.

• Steamlined reporting mechanisms: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should create a clear way to report evidence to the proper authorities.

• Operator accountability: Sportsbooks and mobile betting operators should proactively monitor flag and ban accounts linked to abusive behavior.

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NFL, MLB, NBA, others partnered with betting operators

The statement comes after multiple professional sports leagues have partnered with sportsbooks or betting operators in recent months. In August, the NFL announced partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics Betting and Gaming. MLB has been partnered with FanDuel since 2023 and its teams have sought partnerships with other prediction markets. The NBA has a full webpage dedicated to listing off its official gaming partners and operators.

This story will be updated.