North America

Seven major U.S. sportsbooks have launched a united effort to tackle problem gambling.

The new Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) will serve as an independent trade association focused on developing and implementing responsible gaming best practices in the most impactful way possible across the industry. The founding members are BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment, a septet that ROGA says accounts for more than 85% of the legalized online sports betting and gaming industry in the U.S.

Initiatives from the association will include funding and supporting research, helping to lead both consumer-facing and industry-facing responsible gaming education and awareness and promoting responsible gaming best practices. It will also aim to create a database to facilitate information sharing in the industry as well as launch an independent certification program to evaluate members’ responsible gaming efforts.

ROGA will be led by Execu..

Sports betting data platform OddsJam has partnered with responsible gaming and behavioral health treatment company Birches Health to offer resources, education and care for problem gambling addictions.

All OddsJam users will now have easy access to a wide selection of responsible gaming resources and treatment services. Birches Health aims to help problem gamblers who would otherwise have been unable to access care through traditional channels immediately get the support they need.

The service provides a program covered by insurance and the government and run by a clinical team with decades of experience in gambling-specialized care.

“OddsJam is passionate about educating our users to bet smarter by focusing on value when it comes to decision-making, so working with Birches Health is a win-win,” said OddsJam CEO Matt Restivo. “We have a duty to partner with entities in our space who are doing the right thing, and Birches Health is the epitome of this philosophy.”

“We are thrilled ..

Tipico Sportsbook is making history as an operator in America’s gaming market.

The Malta-based operator has earned Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP) accreditation in New Jersey and Ohio becoming the first sportsbook in the U.S. to receive the accreditation for best practices in consumer protection. Tipico earned the iCAP accreditation following the launch of its Fair Play Pledge, a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to foster a safe and enjoyable betting experience for users while maximizing value.

The National Council on Problem Gambling is the administrator of iCAP accreditations.

“ICAP accreditation is a meaningful award for Tipico because it validates our approach to make fair play a companywide initiative that requires buy-in by our employees,” said Tipico Compliance & Legal SVP Bryan Schroeder in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of our team for rallying around our efforts to continuously improve safety and clarity. Our primary goal is to ensure customers hav..

ESPN host Rece Davis is under fire for equating a college basketball wager to a “risk-free investment.”

During an ESPN Bet segment on Sunday, betting analyst Erin Dolan and Davis were discussing the rationale of betting the under for a team’s total points in a March Madness matchup between UConn and Northwestern. Dolan explained her decision to bet Northwestern to score under 60.5 points in which Davis replied with a controversial comment.

“Some would call this wagering, gambling. I think the way you’ve sold this; I think what it is, is a risk-free investment,” said Davis during the segment.

Davis describing a sports wager as a risk-free investment is an issue that continues to be a topic of discussion throughout America’s regulated gambling industry.

In 2022, FanDuel and DraftKings eliminated “risk-free” and “free bet” terminology in their marketing following criticism of advertising practices in gambling.

Last year, New York became the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to take le..

The NCAA is continuing to protect its student-athletes from gambling harm.

The governing body of college sports has launched Draw the Line, a campaign aimed at educating student-athletes on the effects of sports betting. The campaign, which debuted during the start of March Madness, will also address problem gambling.

“Sports betting is everywhere, especially on college campuses, so it’s critical student-athletes get the real story about how it can impact them and their ability to play,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes and officials, so that’s why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement.”

The NCAA’s new campaign comes during the governing body’s most profitable event, March Madness. The three-week men’s and women’s tournament will see the NCAA generate approximately $1 billion in revenue, which is roughly 85% of its a..

DraftKings is continuing to invest in efforts to curtail problem gambling.

The Boston-based company has announced an expanded partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to provide therapy and treatment for problem gambling in all operational sports betting and iGaming markets. The resources for users in 25 states build on a previous relationship established between DraftKings and Kindbridge.

In 2023, DraftKings and Kindbridge partnered to launch a pilot program in Colorado.

“We appreciate the opportunity to deepen our collaboration with Kindbridge Behavioral Health and strengthen our commitment to providing important resources to those experiencing potential indications of problem gaming,” said DraftKings Chief Compliance Officer Jennifer Aguiar. “We want everyone on our platform to engage in responsible play and we are committed to educating consumers on the multitude of resources offered.”

DraftKings and Kindbridge are offering services to those impacted by problem gambling fr..

FanDuel has announced that it has donated a total of $300,000 to gambling charities as part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM).

It will donate $150,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to support its Agility Grants Program and another $150,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). Additionally, it has partnered with Kindbridge Behavioral Health and joined its pilot program.

“Our team works year-round at FanDuel to equip and support our customers to play responsibly,” said Alison Kutler, FanDuel Sustainability and Responsible Gaming Vice President. “As we mark Problem Gambling Awareness Month, I’m excited to work with a growing roster of partners to expand access to problem gambling support resources.”

Agility grant

The NCPG’s Agility Grants program, which is funded by the NFL, provides funding to non-profit organizations across the U.S. for problem gambling prevention in areas that currently have no services to expand existing programm..