Pascal Siakam reveals sports betting’s effects
Toronto Raptors forward and two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam hit out at the behavior of angry sports bettors during an appearance on “The Draymond Green Show.”
wish you death because they missed whatever they were betting on”
“[Sports bettors] literally wish you death because they missed whatever they were betting on,” Siakam said before clarifying that he does not care if bettors miss their parlays.
Siakam’s revelation adds to a growing list of negative experiences athletes have had since sports betting became a more popular medium of entertainment for fans. His teammates, Fred VanVleet and Chris Boucher, have also expressed distaste with how it has affected fan behavior.
A snowball effect
Siakam is known as a mostly level-headed player in the NBA, well-liked by many and respected for the improvement that he has made since first stepping foot on an NBA court.
Despite his likable persona, he is one of many athletes that have been victims of abuse from sports bettors at games and online. He believes that this is a byproduct of the mindset that sports betting has created.
I don’t care; I could care less.”
“That culture is the craziest thing to me….” Siakam said to Green. “I just want to say, I don’t like it, and stop messaging me about you lost your parlay, I don’t care; I could care less.”
Sports betting is legal in 37 of the 50 states and a majority of America’s northern border (next to Canada). Sports betting is also legal in Canada, and the provinces control the rules and regulations within their respective jurisdictions.
Many states, including Missouri, Texas, Vermont, and others are also on the verge of legalizing sports betting. That would open the door to larger tax revenues for the state and easy forms of entertainment for gamblers, but would heap more external pressure on athletes to perform.
Other Raptors speak out
Fellow Raptors All-Star VanVleet previously spoke on the negative effects of sports betting on athletes.
During a discussion with Amit Mann and ex-Raptor C.J. Miles on “Strictly Hoops,” the Wichita State product said that he received so much abuse online that he took a hiatus from social media. He shared that he receives death threats and messages like “I hope your mom dies” daily.
On a more positive note, he also said that the decision to cut out social media changed his life for the better, and he is grateful that he has learned how to eliminate negativity.
he was called a “slave” by a disgruntled gambler
Boucher, speaking on the most recent episode of his podcast “Hustle Play,” revealed that he was called a “slave” by a disgruntled gambler.
“Somebody said ‘I chose the wrong slave today,’” Boucher said. “They literally sent me that message…I couldn’t believe it.”
Boucher, who was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada, said that verbal abuse has a lasting impact on athletes.
“Now it’s what, you’re going to delete all your social and all that?” he said. “Now you’re losing your life, the life that you’d be living. If you don’t have the right people around you and if you don’t have the right motive and the right intention on everything you do, you could lose that easily.”
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal also recently had a run-in with a fan that claimed Beal’s performance against the Orlando Magic cost him $1,300.