SBC Americas

MGM Resorts and BetMGM have announced new initiatives with mental health care provider Kindbridge as part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM).

MGM Resorts has donated $100,00 to the Kindbridge Research Institute in support of a voluntary medication trial for veterans experiencing gambling addiction in Las Vegas, while BetMGM has announced it will expand its relationship with Kindbridge Behavioural Health.

MGM Resorts and Kindbridge Research Institute

MGM Resorts’ donation of $100,000 will contribute to research into a first-of-its-kind treatment that aims to reduce gambling urges and symptom severity among veterans with gambling disorders.

The research, run in conjunction with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, is part of the Kindbridge Research Institute’s 50x4vets program which aims to increase the research on gambling disorders in veterans by fifty times in four years.

“This is such a promising intervention,” said Nathan D. Smith, Executive Director of Kindbridge Resea..

North America is maintaining its ability to provide a safe environment for betting activity, according to Sportradar Integrity Services’ betting corruption and match-fixing review.

In 2023, Sportradar detected 1,329 suspicious matches in 11 different sports. The total of suspicious fixtures, which included 105 countries, was flat compared to 2022’s results.

Out of the suspicious matches detected by Sportradar, only 34 were from women’s events.

“Continued investment in the development of technology is key to detecting otherwise hard-to-find occurrences of match-fixing,” said Sportradar EVP of Integrity, Rights Protection and Regulatory Services Andreas Krannich. “In combination with access to account-level data, collaboration across the industry, and human experts, we have a suite of powerful tools to help both prevent and detect risks to sports integrity.”

Sportradar’s ability to monitor matches was bolstered by artificial intelligence, which detected 73% of all suspicious matches ..

Daily fantasy sports operator Underdog has announced it has invested in the responsible gaming solutions provider idPair.

Through GuardDog, Underdog’s responsible gaming innovation fund, the operator will provide investment as well as allowing idPair access to advisors, mentors and investors. Underdog has also confirmed that idPair will be prioritized for integration into Underdog’s product offerings.

idPair’s technology allows for universal responsible gaming limits as it is able to create a centralized view of an individual’s play and gambling activity across all applications and operators in a jurisdiction for regulators.

“Most users play with more than one operator for their gaming activity. The opportunity we see with idPair is the ability to connect people and their play, and use those insights to inform enhanced responsible gaming initiatives,” said Adam Warrington, Vice President of Responsible Gaming at Underdog. “Operators can only focus on their individual platforms. We b..

Roughly four months after the Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association was established, it has now named an Executive Director.

The group has appointed former regulator George Rover to the post. Rover’s storied career includes a stint with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement during the time when the organization helped mobilize and launch online casino sites in the state.

“In the spirit of collaboration – whether it be with state regulators, politicians, legislators or online gambling operators, I look forward to working with key stakeholders and will champion the critical role affiliate companies play in the regulated online gambling ecosystem,” said Rover. “The formation of the RGAA will provide this essential segment of the industry with an important and constructive voice to promote responsible gambling, prioritizing the best interests of consumers through a unified set of high standards and guidelines to achieve long-term success.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Georg..

Jackpocket Casino has made history as an emerging iGaming operator.

The New York-based operator has received responsible gaming certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) becoming the first iGaming brand to receive the accreditation.

Jackpocket has received the certification as part of the NCPG’s Internet Responsible Gambling Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP), which sets the highest standard for online RG in the U.S.

Jackpocket received the accreditation following an arduous certification process, which included a product and website evaluation and an audit of the company’s RG policies. The company also had to show a commitment to player safety through its various features.

“In achieving iCAP accreditation, Jackpocket Casino has emerged as a pioneer in prioritizing player protection and responsible gambling practices within the U.S. iGaming landscape,” said NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte. “We applaud Jackpocket for emphasizing the safety of their use..

The PGA Tour is joining a group of professional sports leagues and media entities that support responsible sports betting advertising.

The organizer of pro golf tours in North America announced on Tuesday that it has joined the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, which launched in 2023. The PGA Tour, which has secured several marketing deals with gambling operators, has also renewed its Leadership Circle membership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

“With the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, the PGA Tour remains committed to establishing a safe and healthy marketplace for consumers,” said PGA Tour Vice President of Gaming Scott Warfield. “The Tour is proud to stand alongside its fellow sports leagues and network partners on the coalition, as well as with our colleagues at NCPG, in our continued mission to educate fans on the merits of gambling responsibly and the resources available to address problem gambling issues.”

The co..

Getting the Saturday Night Live treatment is generally an indicator that a person, a business or an industry has fully infiltrated the mainstream.

This past weekend, sportsbooks were the target of a spoof commercial on the program. SNL aired a fake commercial for fictitious operator Rock Bottom Kings, a sportsbook that allows you to wager on the problematic behavior of your peers who may be struggling with a gambling problem.

The ad mimics the look and feel of BetMGM’s spots with Jamie Foxx and the vocal delivery and graphics employed by just about every operator.

More than anything though, the skit sends up the company’s approach to problem gambling, oscillating between humor and the idea you can win from gambling to periodic moments of seemingly insincere concern about addiction.

Gaming industry analyst Steve Ruddock was one who thinks the skit is an indication of how the industry’s RG efforts are landing with the average person.

The skit isn’t going to change hearts and minds..

Tipico Sportsbook is taking steps to educate and protect its bettors with a new initiative.

On Monday, the Malta-based operator launched the Tipico Fair Play Pledge, a first-of-its-kind initiative that looks to educate, reward and protect bettors. The pledge is aimed at fostering a safe but enjoyable betting experience while helping users maximize value.

“The sportsbook industry is criticized for misleading users with vague language and a lack of protective safeguards. This is not the case at Tipico,” said Tipico U.S. CEO Adrian Vella. “The Fair Play Pledge is much more than just an app upgrade or generic customer service commitment. It is a repositioning of our business, reimagining the relationship with players by putting safety and clarity at the heart of everything that we do.”

The pledge improves the user experience for Tipico bettors through an improved app interface, which includes clear language to help customers better understand what their betting on and its value. Custome..

Maryland lawmakers are taking steps to prevent college students from gambling on campus.

House Bill 1087 has been introduced in Maryland as a piece of legislation that aims to prohibit online gambling on college campuses across the state. The bill, which had its first reading in the state’s Ways and Means and Appropriations Committee, would allow institutions to establish a virtual perimeter, “geofence,” around their campuses that would block cell phone access to online sportsbooks. Maryland, which went live with sports betting in November 2022 is home to over 10 operators, including FanDuel and ESPN Bet.

HB 1087 would require four-year public institutions, Baltimore City Community College, and local community colleges to secure contracts with geolocation service companies that have deals with licensed sports betting operators in the Old Line State. The bill anticipates higher expenses for institutions that land the contracts but expects no impact on revenue.

If implemented, colleg..