ESPN Launches “The Talk” Campaign to Promote Responsible Sports Betting

ESPN is reinforcing its commitment to educating and protecting its audience as sports betting becomes more mainstream with the launch of “The Talk,” a new campaign aimed at promoting responsible gaming practices.

The campaign features two creative spots — one starring SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan labeled “Wedding Day,” and the other, starring SportsCenter anchor Gary Striewski. Using humor and inspired by the classic “heart-to-heart” conversations families often have, “The Talk” engages viewers to deliver its message about what it means to play smart.

“At ESPN, we believe it’s our responsibility to help sports fans understand the risks of sports betting and learn what smart betting looks like. When ESPN decided to license its name to a sportsbook, responsible gaming was at the forefront of the discussion. The ESPN BET sportsbook, operated by PENN Entertainment, offers comprehensive responsible gaming resources that encompasses a wide range of protections and tools. However, ESPN’s commitment to responsible gaming extends even further. Because we feature content and advertising on betting, we believe we have a responsibility to help sports fans understand how to bet responsibly. We’re proud to work with industry leaders to find new and different ways to reach these audiences,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship.

The campaign will include the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline and direct viewers to a dedicated landing page, ESPN.com/smartplay, offering additional tools and resources to help fans understand what smart betting looks like and to help them have meaningful conversations about responsible betting.

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“‘The Talk’ blends education, humor and actionable resources to capture attention and emphasize the importance of responsible gaming. This campaign encourages fans to reflect on their betting habits and discuss smart practices with family and friends. We want to normalize these conversations and ensure fans understand why responsible betting matters,” Martinez said.

“ESPN is taking an important approach to responsible gambling messaging, supported by behavioral science research. Rather than just focusing on the negative, these spots accentuate the positive by encouraging healthy habits: being a better bettor is not just about knowing when to take risks, it’s also about knowing when not to,” said Brett Abarbanel, Ph.D., Executive Director of International Gaming Institute at UNLV.