Payton Thorne, quarterback for the Auburn Tigers, has revealed that he has been receiving Venmo requests from bettors who have lost money after the team's loss to the California Golden Bears.
The rise of legalized sports betting has brought with it a surge of interactions between athletes and fans, many of which are far from pleasant. As fans lose money based on an athlete's performance, they are increasingly turning to athletes like Thorne with demands for reimbursement.
Thorne's Auburn Tigers suffered a disappointing 21-14 defeat at home to the California Golden Bears, dropping Auburn to 1-1 on the season. In the aftermath of the game, Thorne found himself bombarded with Venmo requests from bettors who had lost money on the Tigers.
College Football Gamble: Bettors Target Athletes for Money After Losses
"They're definitely not sending cash," Thorne said during an appearance on "The Next Round." "When they lose money, they want the money back. But when they win money on a parlay, no one's ever sending any money."
Thorne's experience is a reflection of the increasingly hostile environment that athletes face in the age of sports betting. With commercials and ads for betting apps omnipresent during broadcasts and on social media, fans are becoming more accustomed to placing bets on their favorite teams and players.
College Football Gamble: Bettors Target Athletes for Money After Losses
Unfortunately, this often leads to frustration and anger when bets are lost. Fans, who may have no understanding of the nuances of the game or the challenges that athletes face, can quickly turn on players and coaches when things don't go their way.
Thorne knows all too well the sting of criticism from fans. In addition to the Venmo requests, he says that he often hears from people on the street who criticize his performance. However, he has learned to block out the noise and focus on what's really important.
College Football Gamble: Bettors Target Athletes for Money After Losses
"You have to go back to where your foundation is in life, and for me, that's my faith and my family. Just doing that, but also keeping the focus on what's next," he explained.
Thorne is in his fifth collegiate season, his second with the Tigers. After a solid performance in the win over Alabama A&M, Thorne struggled against California, completing just 14 of 27 passes with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Despite the disappointing loss, Thorne and the Tigers are looking to bounce back this week against New Mexico at home. Thorne remains focused on leading his team to victory, despite the challenges that may come from both fans and bettors.
