The Entain Foundation U.S. and EPIC Risk Management launched a player education initiative January 27 working with colleges across the country to foster gaming awareness. The initial agreement involves more than 40 colleges including Fordham University in New York City and Monmouth University in New Jersey.
“The Monmouth University Hawks are delighted to have EPIC Risk Management deliver their gambling awareness and sports betting integrity education sessions to our student athletes,” said AJ Schaufler, associate athletic director for compliance, Monmouth University. “This is a topic that we take very seriously here at Monmouth and indeed, these sessions are providing our students with an increased understanding of the risks of problematic gambling.”
Other participants include the University of Akron, Eastern Illinois University, Harvard University, Northern Illinois University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), University of Ohio, University of Oregon, Seton Hall University and the University of Utah.
The partnership, begun last March, will add more colleges throughout 2021, according to CalvinAyre.com. The program is part of Entain’s promise to invest $132 million over five years towards responsible gaming issues.
EPIC and Entain have also collaborated with the National Football League Players’ Association Professional Athletes Foundation, USA Rugby, and the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital.
“We know from international experience that the most successful sports betting operators are also the most responsible. As legalized sports betting continues to expand in the U.S., education and responsible gaming is a top priority. We are excited to expand our partnership with EPIC to reach colleges across the country to educate young people,” said Martin Lycka, Entain senior vice president for American regulatory affairs and responsible gambling.
In other Entain news, the company renewed their agreement with Inspired Entertainment Inc. Under the terms, Inspired will offer virtual sports products across its international portfolio with more than 20 nations.
As part of the decade-old arrangement, Inspired’s virtual sports suite will be accessible to Entain brands such as Ladbrokes, Coral, BetMGM, bwin, Eurobet, partycasino, Gala and Foxy Bingo, according to SBCNews.
“Both companies have been collaborating closely for the past decade through a successful partnership in both the online and retail channels,” said Brooks Pierce, Inspired’s president and COO. “This new agreement is testament to the strength of our offerings and we look forward to extending our long-standing relationship and opening it up to new territories for Inspired, including North America, with Entain’s recognized brands.”
For Entain, the deal helps guide the company towards its goal of bringing in 100 percent of corporate revenues from regulated markets by 2023.
“Inspired has been a trusted key supplier and their virtuals have proven to be very popular with our customers in both our retail venues and via our interactive platforms,” said Sandeep Tiku, chief operating officer and board member of Entain Plc.
