Yesterday, Dave Essler bashed a Seton Hall player directly (on Twitter).
Such actions do not meet the Pregame.com standard, and are unacceptable.
He has since deleted the tweet and publicly apologized to the player. Such after-the-fact efforts are noteworthy - but when you are serious about a standard, falling short must have consequences.
Any sports bettor understands being frustrated. But that’s no excuse. In order for the sports betting industry to continue to grow, industry representatives must act in a professional manner. Pregame.com is unwavering in this commitment.
Dave Essler has been suspended for 10 days.
This punishment comes with a significant financial consequence for Dave. I am hopeful that it will reinforce to him Pregame’s zero tolerance policy regarding unprofessional behavior.
That said, it’s important to remember that each of us is better than our worst moments. Over the years, Dave Essler has been a significant contributor to his followers and the community. In net, our community has benefited from his participation.
The best any organization can do is clearly state its standard, and fairly hold participants accountable to it. I believe our reaction to Dave’s mistake has accomplished that.