The growth of legal online sports betting has made fans feel more connected to the athletes. But sometimes players can be negatively affected by the people playing the games they are playing.
Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher is the latest professional athlete to suffer the wrath of a bitter fan.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports Canada, Boucher recalled the time a fan received a nasty message after missing a parlay.
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Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors warms up before the NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
“The bets aren’t going to get any better now, with the parlays and everything… Somebody said, ‘I picked the wrong slave today.’ He literally sent me that message… I only had 5 points and I needed to get 10,” Boucher said.
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Boucher or any other player should not be subject to these types of messages. As more states legalize sports betting, more fans will participate in legal online gaming.
Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors scores during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 6, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Many bettors use the sports game for fun, but the message Boucher got is definitely having a negative effect.
Boucher explained how the hate mail affected his gaming experience.
“Now the players are not so much fans. We’re lucky in Toronto and we have the best fans. Imagine now if you get messages like this and you don’t really … know if that person is really talking to you. ‘I need to get 10 points today.’ I really want to did I talk to you now?… If I get 8, you’re going to light up my Twitter, my Instagram, my everything,” Boucher stated.
Sports betting is becoming part of the everyday sports conversation. Almost all scoreboards have some form of betting odds. However, with the access social media provides, some fans seem to feel they can say almost anything to athletes.
Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors is seen during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 31, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
On the court, Boucher and the Raptors are fighting for a playoff spot. Toronto is 38-39 and currently sits in 9th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
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The Raptors will have to compete in the NBA play-in tournament that starts on April 11.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.