Key points:
- The Responsible Gambling Council has launched a new initiative with the NFL
- The pair have released a new student-athlete education programme in Canada
- This initiative looks to educate university/college athletes on gambling harms
The National Football League (NFL) has unveiled a new partnership agreement with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) for the development and release of a new student-athlete training programme at a number of Canadian universities.
Indeed, the initiative looks to educate young athletes – a group who are often vulnerable to risky gambling behaviours – on problem gambling prevention techniques and responsible gambling practices. Further, the programme has been designed with a self-evaluative framework that looks to measure its success of the training for future initiatives.
Initially, the programme will enter into a pilot stage that will see a rollout across eight Canadian universities during the spring term. Following on from this, the programme will utilise this pilot phase to review any necessary adjustments or improvements before launching across 30 universities in Canada.
Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, commented on the development, saying: "We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative.
“Our shared goal is to equip these student-athletes with the tools and knowledge to navigate gambling risks, fostering a safer and more responsible environment. We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gambling efforts to benefit all those who play and engage with our game as fans."
Good to know: The AGA reported $35bn in legal NFL wagers for the previous 2024 season
More recently, Aristocrat also launched NFL-themed slot machines across 13 casinos in Puerto Rico this week.
Also commenting was RGC CEO, Sarah McCarthy, who said: “Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics, and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviours.”
“Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student-athletes build capacities to succeed both on and off the field.”
For the RGC, this latest partnership initiative follows on from its Ontario based collaborative agreement with Entain in 2021, which came in preparation of the province’s regulation the year after. Indeed, in 2022, the RGC also joined forces with ThinkTV for the launch of a safer gambling PSA in Ontario.
