A coalition dedicated to responsible sports betting advertising has been established, featuring prominent members from both the media and sports sectors. This voluntary association, known as the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, aims to uphold consumer protection policies in line with key principles.
Diverse Membership
The coalition boasts a diverse membership that includes major sports leagues such as the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Nascar, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and media giants like NBCUniversal and Fox.
Commitment to Responsible Advertising
The coalition is driven by a commitment to responsible advertising, with several guiding principles:
Targeting Adult Audiences: Sports betting should only be marketed to adults who have reached the legal betting age, ensuring that advertisements are directed appropriately.
Responsible Messaging: Advertising should not promote irresponsible or excessive gambling. It should also avoid content that degrades the consumer experience. All advertising should be devoid of misleading elements and should maintain a high standard of taste and decency.
Internal Review and Consumer Complaints: Member publishers are expected to conduct thorough internal reviews of sports betting advertising to ensure compliance with responsible advertising standards. They should also address and review consumer complaints promptly.
Industry-Wide Collaboration
Kenny Gersh, Executive Vice President of Media and Business Development at MLB, highlighted the importance of the coalition, emphasizing the need for careful planning and implementation of sports betting options. He stated that this initiative complements efforts to promote responsible gambling and address problem gambling challenges.
Support for Responsible Gaming
Casey Clark, Senior Vice President of the American Gaming Association (AGA), commended the responsible advertising commitments made by leading players in the sports and entertainment industry. He stressed that these commitments align closely with the AGA’s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. The AGA sees this as a shared prioritization of responsible gaming and consumer protection.
Responsible Gaming Initiatives
This coalition’s formation follows similar responsible gaming initiatives in the industry. Earlier, a coalition of online gaming operators was established to agree on industry-led responsible gaming standards. This collaboration included Fanatics Betting and Gaming, Hard Rock Digital, PointsBet, Bally’s, BetMGM, DraftKings, Entain, FanDuel, and MGM Resorts International.
AGA’s Commitment to Responsible Marketing
The AGA has been proactive in promoting responsible marketing in the sports wagering industry. It recently updated its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, setting a high standard for responsible advertising and emphasizing the commitment of its members to responsible practices.
The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising represents a significant step towards ensuring that sports betting advertising is conducted in a responsible and consumer-friendly manner. The industry-wide commitment to these principles underscores the importance of protecting consumers while fostering a thriving and sustainable sports betting ecosystem.