The team behind the Tennis Insider Club podcast has revealed it turned down a $270,000 sponsorship offer from a betting company, citing growing concerns about gambling’s impact on athletes and the wider sport.
The club’s co-founder, Caroline Garcia, who recently retired as a professional tennis player, described the offer as “a huge amount of money”, especially for an independent sports platform, but said the decision was rooted in protecting both the podcast’s values and the well-being of the tennis community it serves.
Tennis Insider Club Podcast Rejects Six-Figure Gambling Deal
According to the French woman, conversations with players, coaches, agents, and parents over the past two years have repeatedly highlighted a troubling trend: the link between online betting and a rising wave of pressure, harassment, and abuse directed at athletes.
“Every player, from Top 10 stars to ITF grinders, has stories,” the statement said, pointing to social media messages filled with insults, demands for money from losing bettors, and even death threats. “Not because of sport. Because of gambling.”
Garcia argued that accepting betting sponsorship would contradict the podcast’s mission, which centers on authentic storytelling, supporting athletes, and fostering a healthier sporting culture.
“Betting companies spend millions on sponsorships because it works,” she said. “It shifts attention. It shapes behaviour. It normalises gambling. But we do not want our community pushed in that direction.”
While stressing that the decision was not a moral indictment of casual gamblers or athletes who accept betting endorsements, the podcast emphasized that its own platform must reflect the values it seeks to amplify. Building trust with guests, many of whom discuss sensitive topics including mental health, was highlighted as a core responsibility.
Despite acknowledging the financial weight of the rejected deal, the team said long-term credibility and commitment to the sport outweigh short-term gains. They expressed confidence that future partnerships will align with the platform’s ethos and support its mission without contributing to the pressures athletes already face.
“We will find partners who believe in that vision,” she concluded. “We are just getting started. And we are doing it the right way.”
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