The National Football League (NFL) announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) to develop and implement a comprehensive responsible gambling training program specifically designed for college athletes.
The RGC and NFL have identified college athletes as an important audience for responsible and problem gambling prevention initiatives, as previous research has shown their susceptibility to risky gambling behaviors.
The program will launch with a pilot phase at eight universities and colleges across Canada throughout this year.
Insights and feedback from this phase will be used to refine and improve the program before its wider rollout across 30 university institutions in the 2025 – 2026 academic year.
Details about the partnership
The initiative will include a robust evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and impact of training. The NFL and RGC will explore opportunities to share the results and learnings of this initiative with broader audiences to maximize its impact.
Sarah McCarthy, executive director of the Responsible Gambling Council, said, “College athletes face unique pressures with academic responsibilities, athletic responsibilities and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviors.
Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools they need to make informed decisions. Early education about responsible gaming helps college athletes develop capabilities to succeed both on and off the field.”
Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, said, “We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative. Our common goal is to equip these college athletes with the tools and knowledge to address the risks of gambling, promoting a safer and more responsible environment.
We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gaming efforts to benefit everyone who plays and engages with our game as fans.”
Details of the program carried out by the NFL and RCA
The program aims to equip university athletes across Canada with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about the game.
The training program will include a specialized session with engaging videos, interactive components and best practices for responsible gaming. After participating in training, college athletes will:
- Understand the dangers, risks and probabilities of gambling and how players are likely to lose over time.
- Recognize your unique susceptibility to risky gambling behaviors.
- Identify signs of gambling-related harm and its potential impact on players and loved ones.
- Learn about the resources available to those experiencing gambling-related harm.
This collaboration with the RGC is part of the NFL’s commitment to promoting responsible gaming practices. Additionally, the NFL seeks to address the urgent need for resources for problem gambling awareness and prevention initiatives.
This action builds on the NFL’s existing efforts in this area. For example, the NFL already has a partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling, which focuses on strengthening problem gambling prevention services.
About the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to preventing problem gambling.
The RGC seeks to reduce the risks associated with gambling by creating and offering innovative awareness and information programs. Additionally, they serve a variety of groups, including youth, adults, and the general public.
