The National Football League (NFL) has partnered with the Responsible Gaming Council to provide responsible gambling education at Canadian universities and colleges.
The course will be tailored specifically to student-athletes, who the two bodies have identified as susceptible to risky gambling behavior.
Tailored Responsible Gambling Education for Canadian Student-Athletes
The course will launch at eight universities and colleges nationwide, beginning in the Spring term 2025. The RGC and NFL have embedded a ‘robust evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and impact of the training.’ The pilot scheme’s results and lessons will then be used to adjust the material ahead of its rollout to 30 educational institutions in the 2025-2026 school year.
Sarah McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Gambling Council, said in a release. “Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics, and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviors.”
She continued, “Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student-athletes build capacities to succeed both on and off the field.”
The program aims to provide students with the ability to:
- Understand the dangers, risks, and odds of gambling and how players will likely lose over time.
- Recognize their unique susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
- Identify the signs of gambling-related harms and their potential impact on players and loved ones.
- Learn about resources available for those experiencing gambling-related harms.
The Responsible Gambling Council will support upskilling those who deliver the course across all participating campuses.
Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility for the NFL, said, “We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative.”
She added, “Our shared goal is to equip these student-athletes with the tools and knowledge to navigate gambling risks, fostering a safer and more responsible environment. We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gambling efforts to benefit all those who play and engage with our game as fans.”
Expanding Responsible Gambling Efforts Across North America
The partnership with the RGC builds on the NFL’s existing collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling (‘NCPG’), which is specific to the United States. In August 2024, the NFL Foundation made a $6.4 million, three-year commitment to the NCPG after an initial $6.2 million grant in October 2021.
The NFL and NCPG partnership has thus far helped deliver upgraded technology and data collection across the 28 contact centers, the nationwide licensing for the 1-800-GAMBLER phone number, and education schemes to those considered most at risk from problem gambling disorders.
The program has provided approximately $1 million in grants to 26 gambling prevention schemes spanning 17 states, impacting the lives of over 40,000 individuals. In addition, over 750,000 people have visited the ResponsiblePlay.org website, which was launched in 2021. The site offers advice on how to keep gambling fun, information about problem gambling, and the assistance available should they be impacted.
