The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and sports media provider ESPN have joined forces to spearhead responsible sports betting practices and media impact analysis.
ESPN commits as a founding donor, contributing $200,000 to UNLV's IGI, an institution with expertise in the gaming industry.
The collaboration aims to navigate the complexities of the evolving sports betting landscape, fostering research, education and advisory services on responsible sports betting practices and its convergence with the media.
Brett Abarbanel, IGI's Executive Director, discussed the importance of ESPN's support in advancing responsible and sustainable representation of sports betting in the media.
The program's focus includes increasing responsible gambling practices, developing evidence-based insights, ensuring responsible marketing practices and educating industry leaders in the media sector.
UNLV IGI plans to leverage ESPN's philanthropic investment across various aspects of the initiative, including personnel, research, global outreach and operational needs.
Abarbanel mentioned wanting to position UNLV's IGI as a hub for academic excellence in this critical area and that the collaboration builds upon ESPN's commitment to responsible sports betting.
UNLV recently partnered with Boyd Gaming in September 2023 to establish the Boyd Innovation Lab within UNLV's Black Fire Innovation Building. The goal was to advance innovation in the hospitality sector in Southern Nevada. The collaboration focuses on testing and refining next-generation technologies relevant to the hospitality and gaming industries.
Additionally, ESPN collaborated with Penn Entertainment in August 2023 to launch ESPN Bet, a multi-platform online sportsbook in 16 states. ESPN Bet is expected to launch later today.
