The National Football League has announced the launch of an extensive, integrated, league-wide responsible betting public awareness program to educate fans to bet responsibly. The key message encourages people to stick to a game plan, set a budget, use licensed, regulated operators, and ask for help if they need it.
The core message of the campaign’s creative is “Stick to Your Game Plan. Always Bet Responsibly.”
“We feel it is critical that the NFL uses the power of our voice to educate and encourage fans who choose to bet to do so in a safe and responsible way,” said Christopher Halpin, NFL executive vice president, chief strategy and growth officer. “We also recognize that responsible betting programs across the country are under-resourced, especially as legalization spreads nationwide.
“Collectively, all of us in the sports and betting industries need to learn from international examples and make sure the development of education and support programs matches the state-by-state growth in legalized sports betting. In collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling and our commercial partners, the league is fully committed to advancing responsible betting awareness, education, and problem-gambling support.”
As part of this initiative, the NFL has made a multimillion-dollar, multi-year commitment to significantly expand its longstanding partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling. NCPG is the leading advocacy group committed to addressing problem gambling through public education programs and help services. The NFL’s funding will enable the NCPG to launch a national grant program to fund enhanced services offered by local and statewide providers, as well as innovative prevention programs, including expansion of youth-facing curricula.
The league’s support will also transform the national problem gambling help line system and allow for the development of improved communications tools, including a new website, responsibleplay.org. The new site will provide the public with quick tips about betting safely and support resources for those in need.
“The National Council on Problem Gambling is pleased to partner with the NFL to shine a light on the importance of responsible betting,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. “With this partnership, we are able to exponentially enhance the NCPG’s ability to provide advocacy, awareness, and assistance on problem gambling. The NFL’s far-reaching initiative demonstrates its strong commitment to being an industry leader in raising awareness.
“The league’s support of our advocacy efforts will help fund new communications initiatives, such as ResponsiblePlay.org and a PSA about problem gambling, expand gambling prevention services where they are most needed, and modernize our National Problem Gambling Helpline operations with updated capabilities.”
Continuing throughout the season, fans will see the NFL’s responsible betting initiative roll out across a variety of channels including online, in-stadium, social media and in print. Later this fall, the program will begin to run on national and local television, including broadcast partners and NFL owned-and-operated media channels. In addition, the NFL is working with clubs to spread awareness and education at the local level.
