WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike: Gamers are experiencing security threats from prediction market customers
As prediction trading floors like Kalshi and Polymarket are more and more getting used for sportsbetting, athletes are warning of the unfavourable and even violent penalties of those platforms on gamers.
At the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday, Nneka Ogwumike, former Los Angeles Sparks ahead, 2016 MVP, and 11-time All-Star within the league, stated prediction trading floors are having a transparent opposed influence on WNBA gamers.
“It’s not a protected place for athletes,” Ogwumike informed Most Powerful Women editor Emma Hinchliffe. “I don’t assume I ever wish to say that one thing is outrightly unhealthy except it completely is, however gamers are positively having a tough time coping with the vitriol that comes with prediction trading floors because it pertains to our efficiency.”
Prediction trading floors have emerged as a substitute and complement to on-line sportsbooks as a result of they’re categorised as a monetary change, fairly than playing platforms, permitting them to bypass regulations and restrictions. Last week, each Kalshi and Polymarket hit new information, in response to Dune Analytics data, reaching a mixed weekly quantity of $22.2 billion on account of NFL and NCAA-bolstered buying and selling volumes.
College athletes are reporting harassment related to sportsbetting. The 2025 NCAA Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations and Learning of Students in College study discovered greater than have of Division 1 males’s basketball gamers reported social media abuse primarily based on their on-court efficiency, and 46% stated the very best charge of unfavourable or threatening messages had been from somebody who positioned a wager on a recreation they performed in.
On Tuesday, each the NBA and WNBA introduced a responsible gaming campaign, partnering with National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to teach followers about sports activities betting dangers. Ogwumike stated extra efforts are required to mitigate abuse of gamers associated to sports activities betting.
“There’s been quite a lot of questions of safety and considerations that haven’t essentially been publicly displayed,” she stated. “Through the [players association] and thru the WNBA, there’s assets which can be obtainable to attempt to mitigate these issues, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that it stops gamers from experiencing issues that might doubtlessly and have doubtlessly affected their efficiency.”
