Aptly named Athlete Wellbeing, it is a global initiative developed by Sportradar Integrity Services for leagues and federations, teams and collegiate governing bodies.
The programme will focus on prevention and education, offering organisations a curriculum that includes on-demand virtual sessions, pre-recorded webinars and in-person workshops.
Jim Brown, Sportradar’s Head of Integrity Services and Athlete Wellbeing, North America, called the programme a “natural step” for the company.
“We believe that Sportradar has an important role in the greater sports ecosystem and a responsibility in helping our partners educate their athletes about the potential impact of sports betting and problem gambling on their mental health,” Brown said.
“As the global leader in providing integrity services, the launch of this programme is a natural step in continuing to protect the integrity of sport for all.”
To help deliver its planned curriculum, Sportradar has partnered with several organisations and individuals from the fields of mental health and gambling addiction.
These include Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a mental health treatment provider focused on gambling and gaming disorders, and Dr Timothy Fong, Co-Director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program.
Sportradar also recently renewed its membership in the United States’ National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
Keith S. Whyte, NCPG Executive Director, said: “We applaud Sportradar for creating their Athlete Wellbeing programme to help protect athletes’ mental health, and we strongly support these efforts.
“As legalised sports betting expands across the country it is more important than ever to ensure gambling addiction prevention and education programmes are in place for every league, sport, club, team and school.”
