Tag Archives: responsible gaming

FanDuel Advances Partnerships to Promote Awareness and Education During Problem Gambling Awareness Month

To promote the importance of safer play during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, FanDuel, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced a series of initiatives and donations to further support a culture of Responsible Gaming.

Expanding Support Behind Non-profit Partnerships

FanDuel will donate $100,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) that will further support the NCPG’s Agility Grants program, in partnership with the NFL Foundation. This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations across the country for problem gambling prevention in areas that currently have no such services. “FanDuel’s commitment to supporting a spectrum of services from problem gambling prevention to responsible gambling education is a reflection of their dedication to building a safe and sustainable gambling ecosystem,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “We are excited to continue to partner with FanDuel on our Agility Grants program, the first-ever national grants for problem gambling prevention. Together, we are taking an important step forward in mitigating gambling-related harm.”

Additionally, FanDuel will expand its support of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to fund ground-breaking research designed to understand gambling behavior in the U.S. With this research, ICRG and FanDuel aim to enhance the industry’s tools to identify potential harm, mitigate risk, and improve responsible gambling programs. “FanDuel’s substantial support plays a crucial role in promoting important research,” stated Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG. “We commend the company for its unwavering dedication towards advocating responsible gaming and increasing awareness about it.”

Raising Awareness through the RG Ambassador Program

FanDuel also will expand efforts to raise responsible gaming awareness through its RG ambassador program. RG ambassador Craig Carton, host of “The Carton Show” on FS1 and “Carton and Roberts” on WFAN 101.9/660 AM radio in New York, recently kicked off a “Responsible Gaming College Tour” with stops at college campuses across the northeast to raise awareness and educate young adults around the risks of problem gambling. In March, the tour will continue with a stop at Sacred Heart University.  “March is an important month to highlight advocacy for responsible gaming,” said Carton. “Whether it’s connecting with young adults about my story on campus or promoting safer play among sports fans on social media, I look forward to continuing to promote a culture of responsible gaming with FanDuel.”

Seven-division boxing champion and FanDuel RG ambassador Amanda Serrano and Carton also will share video content on their respective social channels reminding sports fans of the importance of playing within limits and encouraging those choosing to wager on sporting events to use FanDuel’s ‘Play Well’ tools including wager, deposit, and time limit technology, to help manage their play. “As a FanDuel Responsible Gaming Ambassador, I’m proud to work with the team at FanDuel to promote education around responsible play,” said Serrano. “During Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it’s even more important to remind those who choose to wager of the tools and resources available to them to help stay in control of the way they play.”

Collaborating with League Partners on a Shared Mission

FanDuel works closely with its professional league and team partners to promote responsible gaming to sports fans and applauds the efforts of those who are working to raise awareness of safer play this March. Building off FanDuel’s partnership with the NBA, at games this spring, FanDuel and team partners are sharing critical responsible gaming messaging and raising calls to action at arenas throughout the country, furthering the reach of efforts to promote RG education and tool usage, enabling fans stay in control of their play. “Prioritizing responsible gambling efforts has been integral to our relationship with FanDuel from day one,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Head of Gaming & New Business Ventures, NBA. “Responsible gambling is a key pillar of our approach to legal sports betting and we are grateful that FanDuel shares that vision.” 

Throughout the month, FanDuel is proud to support the PGA TOUR’s newly launched campaign for Problem Gambling Awareness Month on FanDuel TV and through FanDuel social media channels. “When the PGA TOUR made the decision five years ago to enter this space, we did it fully understanding that integrity programs and responsible gaming initiatives would lead the way,” said Scott Warfield, VP of Gaming for the PGA TOUR. “Because of that, we’ve developed deep relationships with operators such as FanDuel that also have that mindset and see responsible gaming as a shared priority and collective responsibility.”

Encouraging Customer Usage of Player Protection Resources

As part of FanDuel’s commitment to lead on responsible play, the company promotes awareness and encourages customers to use responsible gaming resources and tools to help manage their online casino, sports betting, horse racing and daily fantasy sports play. The tools are available in our apps and can be viewed on FanDuel’s Play Well site. These ‘Play Well’ tools include the following:

·       Deposit Limit – Decide how much you can deposit within a given time period.

·       Wager Limit – Decide how much you can wager within a given time period.

·       Maximum Wager Size Limit – Decide how much you can wager on a single bet.

·       Time Limit – Decide the max daily number of hours you can spend on FanDuel apps.

·       Time Out – Decide if you want to take a break from betting.

As part of Flutter’s Play Well strategy, FanDuel and Flutter’s other global divisions are committed to together reaching a global goal by 2030, that 75 percent of active online customers will utilize at least one Play Well tool, with over 50 percent using at least one tool by 2026.

“This March marks the 20th anniversary of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we will once again use this as a moment to demonstrate how FanDuel aims to set the standard for what it means to be a responsible operator,” said Amy Howe, FanDuel Group CEO.  “Through collaboration with our valued partners, we can continue to raise Responsible Gaming awareness and encourage our customers to incorporate our Play Well tools into their experience.”

Entain Foundation U.S. Launches 2nd Edition Of Responsible Gambling App

Entain Foundation U.S., the non-profit dedicated to responsible gambling and funded by Entain, the global sports betting, gaming, and interactive entertainment group, announces the second edition launch of Gamble Responsibly America.

This first-of-its-kind mobile app provides practical tools, assistance and advice to anyone facing potential issues with problem gambling. It has been comprehensively updated with new and improved features in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. Available in the App Store and Google Play Store, the free app is unbranded and brings no commercial benefit to Entain or BetMGM, the U.S. business it jointly owns with MGM Resorts International.

Gamble Responsibly America’s improvements center around two areas: greater educational information about problem gambling, and more tools for users to access help and support. The app’s educational categories include discussions about disordered gambling, behavioral markers of concern, establishing limits, frequently asked questions, and informative videos about responsible gambling.

The app also provides self-assessment tools, including a daily gambling diary, and shows how users can access help, including a live chat feature and links to an extensive array of support services and organizations.

One such organization is Kindbridge, accessible through app. As the world’s first teletherapy company which supports gamblers and gamers struggling with their mental health, Kindbridge provides access to online professional mental health counselors and specialized support services. Kindbridge and the Entain Foundation U.S. also partnered with Game Quitters to launch the Mind Your Game campaign last year – a series of educational videos to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports.

The app also links to My Wager Score, a platform designed to protect sports bettors’ financial health and minimize the risk of harmful play using real-time affordability data.

“The first version of Gamble Responsibly America was well-received and widely welcomed,” recalls Martin Lycka, Entain Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling, and Trustee of the Entain Foundation U.S. “We’ve since been working hard on enhancements to provide an even more comprehensive tool for maintaining responsible gambling, as well as for preventing and mitigating problems, should they occur.”

Lycka acknowledged partner organizations who contribute their expertise and availability to the Gamble Responsibly America app, including Kindbridge, the National Council on Problem Gambling, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, My Wager Score, and others.

“This second edition of Gamble Responsibly America underscores the helpful resources of the first edition, with more tools, more educational information, additional languages and more resources that are available anytime and anywhere,” Lycka added. “Our goal with the app is simple – to educate users on safe gambling habits, and provide the necessary tools and resources to allow users to access help and support instantly.”

Entain Joins 50 Global Leaders on Sustainability

Entain, the global sports betting and gaming entertainment group, has joined the line-up in this year’s 50 Global Leaders sustainability initiative, showcased on Bloomberg’s global media platform, marking its progress on responsible gaming and ESG.

The 50 Global Leaders Campaign shown on Bloomberg’s global platform, highlights work on ESG and sustainability made by leading international companies and specifically highlights the advances made by Entain over the past year in these areas, as well as across other responsibility initiatives.

Last year, Entain launched a Sustainability Charter, and pledged to invest £100 million over five years in the Entain Foundation, to fund responsible gaming initiatives and support people and communities around the world where it operates.

Entain is fully committed to player protection, and is developing a pioneering, personal protection system for players using its technology called ARC (Advanced Responsibility and Care), which will build individual risk profiles for each customer and, if they show signs of being at risk, intervene without them being aware to keep their play safe.

Through its Foundation, Entain has taken a lead in supporting community and grass roots sport through initiatives such as Pitching In and a partnership with SportsAid in the UK, respectively providing funding to help local football clubs and support aspiring young athletes. Internationally the Group supports similar initiatives, such as bwincares in Greece.

Entain is ranked #1 in the All-in Diversity Charter’s All-Index list, the industry benchmark for diversity and inclusion, and is developing initiatives around the world to support under-represented groups, and notably young women, seeking careers in technology. The Group has provided support through the pandemic, with a global Employee Assistance Programme linked to the wellbeing platform, Unmind, and relief, through the Foundation, for victims of COVID-19 in India.

Also over the past year, Entain achieved its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target one year early, reducing emissions by over 15% per employee since 2018, and has committed to become net-zero by 2035. This includes setting a Science-based Target, which we have formally committed to via the Science-based Targets Initiative. The Group is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the S&P Sustainability Yearbook 2021, and FTSE4Good.

Entain Foundation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council on Research to Inform Regulatory Approach to Gaming & Sports-Betting in Canada

Entain, the global sports betting and gaming entertainment group, today announced that its non-profit Foundation will fund research into consumer practices, preferences and behaviours in Ontario, Canada as regulators prepare to legalize gaming and sports betting for the first time. The research will be conducted by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), a Toronto based non-profit organisation and one of the world’s leading advisors on responsible gambling practices.

The Canadian federal government introduced a bill at the end of last year which could pave the way for legalisation of single-event sports betting, with licences for online operators.  Entain has already expressed interest in applying for a licence in Ontario if, and when, they are available.

The research project, led by the Responsible Gambling Council’s RG Plus – a global consultation service that offers research and strategic consultation services –  aims to draw on consumer insights in Canada and experiences across other international jurisdictions to help regulators to make evidence-based recommendations that balance the mandates of online operators with the identifying behaviours and risk factors for consumers.

International experience shows a vast majority of people enjoy sports betting and gaming with no issues, but regulation helps to protect those potentially at risk.

Martin Lycka, Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs & Responsible Gambling at Entain said: “We know from similar research in many markets in which we operate, including the United States, that regulators value research which supports an evidence-based approach to decision-making and effective regulation from a wide range of other international jurisdictions.  Entain, which operates across five continents and over 20 countries, has unparalleled experience with different regulatory approaches taken around the world in the past 15 years. “

The research will focus on a sample of approximately 4,000 adult bettors and gamers (18+ years old), providing the most comprehensive and up to date evidence into responsible online sports betting and gaming needs and interests. The work will also review other key international jurisdictions to assess regulatory approaches, using informant interviews to identify effective responsible betting and gaming practices.

Shelley White, CEO of RGC expressed “As a global leader in responsible gambling, RGC is committed to working with regulators, operators and the public to establish the development and implementation of a robust responsible gambling culture. RGC’s work with Entain will contribute to vital advancements in consumer safeguards.”   

Research work is expected to begin shortly with the full report due later in the year.  Assuming the regulatory process continues, Ontario is expected to become the first Canadian province to introduce online gambling, with initial licences expected to be granted in 2022.

New Research Reveals 90% of Casino Visitors Practice Responsible Gaming

With American acceptance of gaming at an all-time high, casino gamblers are actively practicing responsible gaming, according to new research released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Bettors report setting budgets, sticking to them and being aware of available responsible gaming resources at significantly high rates.

According to the research:

  • 9 in 10 casual bettors set a budget before they visit a casino;
  • 90 percent of those visitors report success in tracking their spending; and
  • 8 in 10 casual casino visitors and 9 in 10 avid casino visitors are aware of responsible gaming resources.

“Responsible gaming is our industry’s top priority,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “This research indicates that our unwavering commitment to responsibility is resonating with our customers. But success in this key area will never mean our work is done, and we look forward to continuing to work with gaming regulators, our partners in the fight against problem gambling and our employees to ensure customers continue to engage in this form of mainstream entertainment responsibly.” 

This research comes on the heels of a recent AGA study that highlighted continued growth in acceptance of gaming. That research indicates that 88 percent of American adults view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment. Americans also have a positive view of the industry’s role as a community partner, with 80 percent of people recognizing gaming’s role as a job creator, and 6 in 10 Americans believing casinos help their local economies.

“Gaming has made great strides over the past few years with the public increasingly recognizing our industry as the community partner and economic driver we know it to be,” continued Miller. “I look forward to working with our members and all interested stakeholders to build upon this great momentum in the years to come.”

The U.S. gaming industry commits more than $300 million to responsible gaming annually, supporting education, training and rehabilitation programs across the country.

Last year, AGA launched the Responsible Gambling Collaborative, convening a renowned group of thought leaders, stakeholders and academics to chart a new course on the complex issue of responsible gaming.

AGA members adhere to the association’s Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct which guides industry commitments to responsible gaming and is updated annually to reflect new developments and industry innovations. In 2018, AGA updated the Code to enhance provisions on sports betting and responsible advertising.

Methodology: Today’s data comes from two separate polls completed in late 2018. Data on Americans’ acceptance of gaming comes from our survey of American’s attitudes toward gaming and was conducted by the Mellman Group of 1,000 registered voters, both online and on the phone. Data on casino visitors’ responsible gaming practices comes from a survey of 2,014 past year casino gamblers. This survey was conducted online by BrandOutlook.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.