NFL, Gaming Platforms Enhance Sports Wagering Policies For Players, Fans

By Barry Janoff

UPDATED September 4, 2024: FanDuel has signed a partnership with former NBA player and basketball coach Randy Livingston and his wife, sports agent Anita Smith, to launch "Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting."

The program and resource hub is “designed to equip trusted adults, including parents, guardians and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, associated risks, how to recognize warning signs and where to go for support.”

September 2, 2024: Last season, an estimated 73.5 million adults in the U.S. waged $100 billion on NFL games via legal sports books, and some 67.8 million people wagered more than $23 billion on Super Bowl LVIII, both records.

Those figures are anticipated to rise during the upcoming 2024 NFL season — the seventh with widespread legal wagering — as the number of people in the U.S. legally allowed to wager on sports increases, with 38 states and Washington DC currently operating legal sports wagering, according to the American Gaming Assn.

Also on the rise is the number of people who say the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling, and that the regions in which sports wagering is legal should expand.

A just-released American Gaming Assn. survey shows that 90% of adults in the U.S. view sports betting as an acceptable form of entertainment and 75% of people in America support legal sports betting in their home state.

Concurrently, 65% of those surveyed feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling, up from 55% last year at this time last year.

Awareness of responsible gaming resources has grown, according to the survey, with 76% familiar with at least one responsible gaming resource, an increase from 65% in 2022; and 75% of of those surveyed believe the gaming industry behaves responsibly in the communities where it operates.

Among its alliances, the NFL this season has extended its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling to “bolster nationwide problem gambling prevention services and promote responsible gambling initiatives.

NFL sports wagering partners include BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel.

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM said they would again partner with the American Gaming Assn. to promote Responsible Gaming Education Month in September.

The two companies will promote their responsible gaming campaign at designated NFL stadiums for the second year, with increased exposure for GameSense, an industry-responsible gaming program.

This past March, seven of the largest U.S. legal mobile gaming companies united to form the Responsible Online Gaming Assn., an independent trade group that “operates with a specific purpose, centered around key pillars of focus, with an aim towards driving the most meaningful impact toward responsible gaming education.”

Founding member companies included BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment, with Bally’s joining in May, which together represent more than 85% of the legalized online sports betting and iGaming industry.

They have pledged more than $20 million in support of Responsible Online Gaming Assn.'s mission in Year One.

“These latest survey results highlight a consistent trend over the years,” Joe Maloney, AGA svp-Strategic Communications, said via the organization. “As gaming expands to new audiences, Americans increasingly see the benefits of a legal, regulated gaming marketplace that contributes to communities, prioritizes responsibility and provides unmatched entertainment,”

“The gaming industry’s responsibility efforts are stronger than ever, and consumers are noticing. As we embark on another Responsible Gaming Education Month, we’re more energized than ever to continue our work to give consumers the legal, safe and fun gaming experiences that they want and deserve.”

Among those partnering with the American Gaming Assn.’s “Have A Game Plan Bet Responsibly” PSA campaign to promote responsible sports wagering are MLB, Nascar, NBA, NHL, PGA of America, PGA Tour and the WNBA.

Regarding its alliances in the category, according to the NFL, “As the sports betting landscape continues to evolve, this renewed commitment addresses the critical need for resources in responsible and problem gambling.”

The three-year, $6.4 million commitment from the NFL Foundation to the National Council on Problem Gambling follows the NFL's original three-year, $6.2 million grant awarded in October 2021,

“Our partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives," Anna Isaacson, NFL svp-social responsibility, said via the league.

"We are proud to leverage our platform and resources with National Council on Problem Gambling's expertise to raise awareness, provide education and help prevent problem gambling. We look forward to our continued partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling and expanding the reach of their impactful programs."

NFL funding supports such key National Council on Problem Gambling initiatives as modernizing and strengthening the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER).

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM GameSense messaging will be promoted in NFL stadiums including:

• Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers)

• Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders)

• Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos)

• Ford Field (Detroit Lions)

• GHEA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs)

• M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)

• MetLife Stadium (New York Jets)

• Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans)

• State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals)

"We're excited to bring responsible gaming initiatives directly to fans in these NFL venues again this season," Rhea Loney, chief compliance officer, BetMGM, said via the group.

“We are setting a new standard for safety and awareness in the industry. At BetMGM, we believe that protecting our players and promoting responsible play is essential to the future of sports betting."

BetMGM will also add to its ads in the coming months spots that “highlight its comprehensive responsible gaming resources.” They will feature brand ambassadors sharing engaging messaging, similar to its responsible gaming commercial featuring NHL MVP Connor McDavid.

Also, coinciding with Responsible Gaming Education Month, MGM Resorts said a $440,000 contribution to fund responsible gaming research is being made to the International Center for Responsible Gaming and Kindbridge Research Institute.

BetMGM said these studies “aim to advance industry best practices and fill significant research gaps on under-studied populations, including women military Veterans.”

"The importance of responsible gaming research funding cannot be overstated,” Stephen Martino, svp-chief compliance officer for MGM Resorts, said via the company.

“As a gaming industry leader, it's imperative that our company supports efforts to better understand the diverse impact gambling has on various populations, including those that may be at greater risk of developing problematic behaviors."

In April 2023, a roster of sports leagues and media companies formed the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising “to ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising.”

They included the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, Nascar, MLS, NBCUniversal and Fox. The PGA Tour joined this past February.

This past April, DraftKings hired its first chief responsible gaming officer, Lori Kalani.

“Responsible gaming is one of our top priorities and it is a core part of our mission to build games that our customers can enjoy responsibly,” Jason Robins, CEO and co-founder of DraftKing, said at the timevia the firm.

“In this leadership role, Lori will further advance our responsible gaming initiatives and uphold our commitment to setting new industry standards.”

DrafKings has been dealing with other issues as the NFL season approaches.

Last week, ESPN reported that NFL Players Association is suing DraftKings, an official betting partner of the league, for breach of contract and alleges that the sportsbook giant owes approximately $65 million from a licensing agreement.

The civil suit, filed last week in federal court in the Southern District of New York, claims DraftKings intends to terminate a contract signed in 2021 with the NFLPA that gave the sportsbook rights to use the name, image and likeness of players for the its recently shuttered NFT marketplace and not pay the remaining minimum guaranteed payments. (Full story here.)

Enntering the season, the NFL has reiterated its guidelines specifically for its players.

They include:

• NEVER bet on the NFL: Includes other NFL events such as Draft, Combine, Pro Bowl, & NFL Honors

• Don't have someone bet for you: Do not ask family, friends, or others to place a bet for you

• Don't gamble (no bets on sports, casino or card games) at your team facility/stadium, while traveling for a road game, or staying at a team hotel.

• Don't share team 'inside information': Don't share information that hasn't been announced by team.

• Don't enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season.

• Don't play daily fantasy football.

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