The biggest operator of online sports betting sites in the United States is rolling out several new responsible-gambling initiatives, which come as bookmakers are increasingly finding their operations under a microscope.
Among other things, FanDuel announced Tuesday that it will donate $100,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to provide further financial support to its Agility Grants program, which will be done in partnership with the NFL Foundation. The program aims to provide money to nonprofits for problem-gambling prevention services.
"We are excited to continue to partner with FanDuel on our Agility Grants program, the first-ever national grants for problem gambling prevention,” NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte said in a press release. “Together, we are taking an important step forward in mitigating gambling-related harm."
Let's see those winning bets ??????
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 21, 2023
FanDuel announced its additional RG efforts during Problem Gambling Awareness Month. It also did so as regulators and lawmakers across the country are more closely examining how operators of online sportsbooks advertise themselves — and wondering if they should toughen the rules for those promotions.
A wave of new advertising-related legislation and regulation has been proposed across the U.S. in the past few months, some of which have gotten traction and could come into effect. One New York congressman is even proposing a federal ban on all sports-betting advertising.
Operators have noticed the heightened scrutiny of legal sports betting, and FanDuel is not the only bookmaker to recently highlight its responsible-gaming efforts.
BetMGM announced a new pledge in February to "prominently feature" RG messaging in its advertising campaigns, which came after the operator was taken to task in Ohio for failing to do so.
"We are committed to leading the industry in promoting responsible gaming, which is why we're announcing this unprecedented pledge to spotlight responsible gaming messaging in our advertising," BetMGM Adam Greenblatt said in a press release. "As the legalized sports betting and online gaming industry continues to expand, it is vital that we not only equip players with tools and resources for how to play in a responsible and safe manner, but that we also make a significant commitment to showcasing responsible gaming in our advertising."
When the Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018, it opened a Pandora’s box of consequences. Problem gambling is on the rise, even among children - worsened by the onslaught of predatory advertising by sportsbooks. https://t.co/rwV8P8D3Ue
— Paul Tonko (@RepPaulTonko) March 20, 2023
FanDuel, meanwhile, said Tuesday that it will "expand its support" of the International Center for Responsible Gaming to help bankroll research on gambling behavior in the U.S. The center and the operator plan to use that research to bolster the tools for finding and helping those with gambling problems.
In addition to revving up its RG outreach with its ambassador program, led by radio host Craig Carton and boxing champion Amanda Serrano, FanDuel is tapping its official partnerships with leagues to spread the word about RG. For example, the operator has pledged to support the PGA Tour's Problem Gambling Awareness Month campaign on FanDuel TV.
FanDuel also has a preexisting goal that 50% of customers will use at least one of its responsible-gaming tools, such as deposit limits, by 2026, and that 75% will do so by 2030.
"This March marks the 20th anniversary of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we will once again use this as a moment to demonstrate how FanDuel aims to set the standard for what it means to be a responsible operator," FanDuel CEO Amy Howe said in a press release.
