Bad Actor Program launched by Signify Group, IC360 and Fanatics Sportsbook

Signify Group partners with IC360 and Fanatics Sportsbook to launch groundbreaking Bad Actor Program. The new initiative introduces accountability for sports bettors who abuse, harass or threaten athletes, coaches and officials online.

Online abuse linked to sports betting is real - and on the rise. Our mission is to change that.

That’s why Signify is proud to partner with Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) to launch the Bad Actor Program. This first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to identify, investigate, and put a stop to abusive and threatening behaviour by bettors directed at sports participants online. Fanatics Sportsbook is taking a leading position as the first sportsbook partner, working alongside Signify and IC360 to deliver this industry-leading initiative.

The program represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the fastest-growing challenges facing modern sport: the rise of online abuse fuelled by sports betting activity.

As the first legal sports betting operator to join the initiative, Fanatics Sportsbook has committed to suspending or permanently terminating customer accounts where evidence demonstrates abusive, threatening or harassing conduct towards athletes, coaches or officials.

Through the Bad Actor Program, intelligence and evidence gathered through Signify's Threat Matrix platform and IC360's compliance technology will help identify individuals whose behaviour crosses the line from passionate fandom into unacceptable abuse.

Turning Intelligence into Accountability

At Signify, we see firsthand the scale of the problem.

Threat Matrix, our unique threat detection and social media intelligence platform, proactively monitors for online abuse and threats directed at athletes, teams, officials and sporting organisations around the world. Across multiple sports and competitions, our investigations consistently reveal a significant proportion of abuse originating from individuals frustrated by – or even trying to influence - betting outcomes.

The impact and consequences for athletes can be severe. What begins as an angry social media post can quickly escalate into targeted harassment, sustained abuse campaigns, direct threats and, in some cases, behaviour that warrants referral to law enforcement agencies.

Until now, however, there have been limited mechanisms available to hold these individuals accountable within the regulated sports betting ecosystem itself. The Bad Actor Program changes that.

By combining Signify's intelligence and investigative capabilities with IC360's compliance infrastructure and operator enforcement measures, the initiative creates meaningful consequences for those who engage in abusive behaviour online.

How the Program Works

Threat Matrix will proactively monitor open-source intelligence sources, including major social media platforms and other online environments, to identify abuse, threats and harassment targeting athletes, coaches, officials and sporting organisations.

Athletes and officials will also be able to report abusive and threatening direct messages and online communications directly to the Threat Matrix team for assessment and investigation.

Threat Matrix analysts will assess and triage online incidents and DM content according to severity. Serious cases will be escalated for detailed Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigation, with evidential packages prepared for law enforcement agencies, sports organisations, and social media platforms where appropriate.

Verified incidents – and the individuals behind them - will be shared through IC360's ProhiBet Bad Actor platform, enabling participating sportsbooks, such as Fanatics, to take enforcement action against customers responsible for abusive online conduct.

The program also provides intelligence sharing capabilities with sports leagues, governing bodies, teams, and sports betting regulators, thus helping stakeholders to understand threats and take appropriate action.

A Clear Message to Offenders

The launch of the Bad Actor Program sends a clear message to anyone who believes threatening or harassing athletes online is simply part of being a sports bettor. It is not.

Online abuse has real-world consequences for the wellbeing, safety and mental health of athletes, coaches and officials. No sporting result, betting outcome or financial loss justifies threatening or intimidating the people who make sport possible.

By introducing meaningful accountability measures, the Bad Actor Program aims not only to punish offenders but also to deter future abuse and contribute to a healthier relationship between fans and sport.

Industry Leadership

Signify commends Fanatics Sportsbook for taking a leadership position on this important issue and becoming the first regulated operator in the world to implement meaningful consequences for customers who engage in online abuse and threats linked to their sports betting activities.

The launch of the Bad Actor Program represents an important milestone, but it should not be the final destination. Protecting athletes and sporting participants from online abuse requires collaboration across the sports betting, sports integrity and safeguarding communities.

We hope this initiative marks the beginning of a broader industry movement to ensure that those who threaten, harass or abuse athletes online are identified, investigated and held accountable for their actions.

To learn more about the Bad Actor Program, read the full Fanatics Sportsbook announcement.