Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff says gamblers sent him messages about his kids and home

As sports betting grows into an integrated part of American sports culture, coaches, players, and officials across all sports are beginning to feel the pressure and challenge of fans actively betting on the outcome of games.

cleveland cavaliers Head coach JB Bickerstaff was adamant about these challenges and the pressures of coaching in this era of sports betting. After the Cavaliers lost to the Miami Heat on Wednesday..

“That brings added pressure,” he says. “It’s a distraction to the game and can make it difficult for the players, coaches, referees and everyone involved in it. And it’s important to know how close we can bring it to the game and the safety of those involved in it. I think we have to be really careful about this.

“Again, because it has weight. A lot of times, people who are gambling like this money are paying utilities and rent, and that’s the feeling that comes from that. So we I think we walk a very fine line and we have to be very careful to protect everyone involved.”

Mr Bickerstaff said the gamblers got his phone number and started sending him “crazy” messages about where he lived and his children. Read his detailed comments here.

When it comes to sports and sports betting, it feels like America is having an Icarus moment pretty quickly. Most professional sports leagues don’t seem ready for such a leap.

Earlier this week, the NBA announced that those with League Pass can now place live bets on broadcast games by watching a line on the screen that directs them to FanDuel or DraftKings. This would be an opt-in rather than an opt-out feature, but it seems risky.

Bickerstaff talks about what many coaches and players think about sports betting and the pressure it puts on them.