The National Football League (NFL) announced a partnership with the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to address growing concerns around gambling behaviors among college athletes and students. The NFL Foundation will contribute $600,000 over three years to support independent, peer-reviewed research being led by the ICRG that aims to explore the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of gambling behaviors in these populations.

While initial studies have indicated that college athletes may be at higher risk for gambling problems, there remains a lack of comprehensive, current data on how college populations interact with online sports betting platforms. This NFL-ICRG initiative will empower independent researchers to explore a wide range of topics with the goal of informing data-driven prevention strategies, education, and policies aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. Grant applications will be peer-reviewed prior to the selection of the final recipient by the ICRG Independent Scientific Advisory Board.

Additionally, the NFL will fund an update to the ICRG’s “Talking with Children About Gambling” educational resources to equip parents, coaches, and educators with practical guidance to help prevent youth gambling exposure before college. Educational materials will be widely available online and distributed to schools, community sports organizations, and youth programs nationwide.

“We’re proud to partner with the ICRG to advance research that can drive meaningful solutions and address a critical gap in the understanding of gambling behaviors among college athletes and students. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting responsible gambling and fostering a safe and supportive environment for athletes, fans, and communities,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility.

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“The NFL has once again demonstrated its commitment to player and fan protection by supporting this critical research targeting young adults. The NFL and ICRG together will make a meaningful contribution to understanding and implementing policies and programs that support a safer gambling environment,” said Arthur Paikowsky, president of ICRG.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and FanDuel, North America’s premier online gaming company, is continuing to build its Responsible Gaming platform through new programming designed to expand access to responsible gaming education. The company is expanding its relationship with Craig Carton to launch “The Comeback with Craig Carton,” a new FanDuel TV show that will focus on problem gambling recovery. FanDuel is also adding new resources to the Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting program that launched last year. Combined with continued support for non-profit partners, these initiatives continue to raise the visibility of problem gambling resources and responsible gaming education.

“FanDuel remains steadfast in its commitment to leading the industry in responsible gaming, and we are proud to introduce industry-first content and programs designed to destigmatize problem gambling and offer education on responsible play. Our new FanDuel TV show with Craig Carton, expanded Trusted Voices program and investments in education and advocacy are part of our year-round commitment to responsible gaming, and we look forward to continuing to offer innovative products and programs to our customers,” said Cory Fox, SVP of Public Policy and Sustainability at FanDuel.

New Problem Gambling Recovery Show on FanDuel TV

Former NBA player and basketball coach Randy Livingston and his wife, sports agent Anita Smith, are FanDuel responsible gaming ambassadors and recently appeared on the first episode of “The Comeback with Craig Carton,” a new show on FanDuel TV focused on problem gambling recovery and hosted by FanDuel’s responsible gaming ambassador Craig Carton. The show features Carton sitting down with those who have experienced the highs and lows of gambling addiction to amplify their stories, break down the stigma surrounding gambling disorder, raise awareness of support resources for individuals and their families and show that recovery is possible. Livingston and Smith were Carton’s first guests and spoke about their family’s history with problem gambling, including the challenges Livingston faced as a recovered problem gambler and Smith faced as his spouse. The episode is now streaming on YouTube and FanDuel TV+.

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Trusted Voices Program Expansion and Promotion

New resources from the Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting program are coming to ConversationsAboutBetting.com. The updates include new resources for college students, their parents, and university staff, including content from KnowYourPlay.org, co-developed by ROGA in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and the Responsible Gambling Council. FanDuel launched Trusted Voices with Livingston and Smith last year. The program is designed to equip trusted adults, including parents, guardians, and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, associated risks, how to recognize warning signs and where to go for support. FanDuel is putting paid support behind the program across radio, digital, social, and digital out of home, with the ad campaign aiming to raise awareness of the risks of underage gambling and equip parents and coaches to have proactive and informed conversations about gambling.

Amplifying Gambling Disorder Screening Day

This year’s Gambling Disorder Screening Day, an effort originally founded by the Cambridge Health Alliance’s Division on Addiction, took place on March 11, and FanDuel partnered with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to empower customers nationwide with resources for informed decision making. FanDuel provided customers with Kindbridge’s free, confidential Gambling Disorder Screener and highlighted the telehealth counseling and support services available through Kindbridge for those seeking help. FanDuel also amplified awareness of the day across its social channels.

Supporting Non-Profit Partnerships

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FanDuel is donating $150,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) that will further support the NCPG’s Agility Grants program, which is funded by the NFL via the NFL Foundation. This program provides funding to non-profit organizations across the country for problem gambling prevention in areas that currently have no services or to expand existing programming.

“We are grateful to FanDuel for their generous support of the Agility Grants program. As the first national grant initiative dedicated to problem gambling prevention, this funding expands our ability to support community-based programs, strengthening the reach and impact of problem gambling prevention efforts nationwide,” said NCPG board president Susan Sheridan Tucker.

FanDuel will also make an additional $150,000 donation to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). The organization is dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by gambling disorder and preventing the onset of gambling problems through high-quality scientific research and evidence-based educational programming. The donation will help fund the creation of a Center of Excellence (COE) focused on advancing research in responsible gambling behaviors. The COE will generate evidence-based insights to help contribute to industry-wide advancements in player protection, engagement strategies, and RG messaging.

“We are proud to partner with FanDuel as we work together to advance critical research that will shape the future of responsible gambling strategies. Support from FanDuel is helping fund a Center of Excellence focused on responsible gaming behaviors, and we look forward to generating evidence-based insights that make a positive impact on communities,” said Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG.

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has welcomed Dr. Travis Sztainert as its new director of research and education. Dr. Sztainert, a distinguished researcher and knowledge translation professional, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in responsible gambling research to the ICRG. With a proven track record in effectively bridging the gap between knowledge, policy, and practice, he will help further the impactful work of the ICRG.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Travis Sztainert to the ICRG team. His extensive background in responsible gambling research and his commitment to transforming data into actionable knowledge align perfectly with our organization’s mission. We look forward to leveraging Travis’s insights to advance our efforts in promoting responsible gambling practices,” Arthur Paikowsky, President at ICRG, said.