The National Football League (NFL) has been the shining example of how a pro sports organization handles responsible gambling.
Since the widespread adoption of sports betting in the United States, the NFL has worked diligently to promote responsible gambling and to ensure that its players, owners, and staff all adhere to league policies for gambling.
Last week, the league announced that it is increasing its gambling policy education and integrity monitoring efforts after what they call a “successful offseason.”
Furthermore, the league is continuing its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling, making a new three-year, $6.4 million commitment.
Key Highlights
- NFL will require in-person gambling policy education and training for all players in 2024.
- No players were suspended in the offseason due to gambling violations.
- The NFL extends its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling with a new $6.4 million grant.
NFL Expanding Gambling Policy Education and Integrity Monitoring Efforts
On Thursday (August 22), the Associated Press issued a press release that the National Football League is increasing its gambling policy education and integrity monitoring program after a successful offseason.
According to the presser, no players have been suspended for gambling violations in the past 13 months, a streak the league hopes to continue.
We learned from last year when in-person education was optional, the benefits of presenting in-person, including increased engagement and awareness, the opportunity for players to ask questions. So for all 32 teams this year, the education was conducted at the team facility during minicamps or training camp.
Sabrina Perel, NFL Chief Compliance Officer
In 2024, in-person gambling policy education and training will be mandatory for all players. The training is held in collaboration with the NFL Players Association. The training reinforces the NFL’s policies on gambling.
The main takeaway from the training is to never bet on NFL games and never gamble in any form while with an NFL team.
According to NFL Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perel, “We learned from last year, when in-person education was optional, the benefits of presenting in person, including increased engagement and awareness and the opportunity for players to ask questions. So, for all 32 teams this year, the education was conducted at the team facility during minicamps or training camp.”
To ensure the integrity of NFL games, each time, an NFL integrity representative is assigned, typically retired FBI agents or retired executive-level police officers.
Their primary responsibility is to monitor for suspicious activities on-site during game days. IC360 and Genius Sports also monitor every NFL game and key event, looking for betting activity that could indicate game manipulation or leaks of nonpublic information.
The league suspended 10 players in 2023 for gambling violations, including Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike.
This past season, NY Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and Jayden Daniels had to undergo multiple education training sessions after Nabers revealed a $10k bet between the two on who would get the offensive rookie of the year award.
NFL Renews Commitment With National Council on Problem Gambling
Further cementing the NFL’s commitment to problem gambling, the league also announced on Thursday that they are continuing their partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
The league is providing a $6.4 million grant to the NCPG to ensure that the organization can continue its progress since 2021.
Our partnership with NCPG underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives. We are proud to leverage our platform and resources with NCPG’s expertise to raise awareness, provide education and help prevent problem gambling. We look forward to our continued partnership with NCPG and expanding the reach of their impactful programs.
Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior VP of Social Responsibility
According to NFL Senior VP of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson, “Our partnership with NCPG underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives. We are proud to leverage our platform and resources with NCPG’s expertise to raise awareness, provide education, and help prevent problem gambling. We look forward to our continued partnership with NCPG and expanding the reach of their impactful programs.”
The grant will go to support three NCPG initiatives. First, it will help strengthen and modernize the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-Gambler).
We are profoundly grateful for the NFL’s renewed investment in NCPG, which will enable us to grow the essential prevention, education and awareness initiatives that were established through their initial grant. This partnership has been instrumental in advancing our mission of minimizing gambling related harm. We look forward to building on the significant progress we’ve made together over the past three years and exploring new avenues for impact.
Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the NCPG
Next, it will help develop and implement the Agility Grants program. This program works to provide problem gambling prevention programs to underserved areas. Finally, the grants will help fund awareness efforts, including ResponsiblePlay.org, a site used to educate fans about responsible gambling.
Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the NCPG, stated, “We are profoundly grateful for the NFL’s renewed investment in NCPG, which will enable us to grow the essential prevention, education and awareness initiatives that were established through their initial grant. This partnership has been instrumental in advancing our mission of minimizing gambling related harm. We look forward to building on the significant progress we’ve made together over the past three years and exploring new avenues for impact.”
The NFL and NCPG first partnered in 2021, when the league gave a $6.2 million grant, the largest in NCPG’s history.
Sources
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-increases-gambling-policy-education-integrity-monitoring-efforts-following-successful-offseason
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-continues-partnership-national-council-on-problem-gambling
