The National Football League (NFL) and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) have announced a new partnership agreement to develop and launch new student athlete training programs at several Canadian universities.
In fact, the program aims to educate young athletes (a group often susceptible to risky gambling behaviors) on how to prevent gambling problems and learn responsible gambling behaviors. Additionally, the program has designed a self-assessment framework to measure the success of the training in order to prepare for future programs.
The program will initially enter a pilot phase, with the spring semester launching at eight Canadian universities. Subsequently, the program will use this pilot phase to review any necessary adjustments or improvements, and then launch at 30 Canadian universities.
Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of NFL Social Responsibility, commented on this development: "We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council's important initiative.
"Our shared goal is to equip these student athletes with the tools and knowledge to handle gambling risks, creating a safer, more responsible environment. We also hope to gain valuable insights to shape future responsible gambling efforts, benefiting all participants and fans involved in our games."
It is worth noting: the American Gaming Association (AGA) reported that the total legal bets on the NFL for the 2024 season reached $35 billion.
Recently, Aristocrat also launched NFL-themed slot machines at 13 casinos in Puerto Rico this week.
Sarah McCarthy, CEO of RGC, also commented, saying: "Student athletes face unique pressures from academics, sports, and sports betting, making them susceptible to risky gambling behaviors."
"Our partnership with the NFL is an important step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make wise decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student athletes develop the ability to succeed on and off the field."
For RGC, this latest partnership initiative is a continuation of its 2021 cooperation agreement with Entain in Ontario, which was aimed at preparing for the regulatory laws to be introduced in the province the following year.
In fact, in 2022, RGC also partnered with ThinkTV to launch a safer gambling PSA in Ontario.
