Responsible Gaming Principles for Sports Gambling Legislation
As states continue to expand legalized sports betting, NCPG is encouraging legislators to set aside at least one percent of the proceeds for problem gambling prevention and treatment programs.
Everyone who profits from sports betting bears responsibility for gambling problems. The only ethical and economical way to maximize benefits from sports betting is to minimize problem gambling harm. Therefore any governmental body and sports league that receives a direct percentage or portion of sports betting revenue must also dedicate funds to prevent and treat gambling problems.
NCPG believes the expansion of legalized sports gambling in the United States will likely increase gambling participation and problems unless steps are taken to minimize harm.
Legislators and Regulators Should:
- Ensure that any expansion of sports gambling includes dedicated funds to prevent and treat gambling addiction.
- Require sports betting operators to implement responsible gaming programs which include comprehensive employee training, self-exclusion, ability to set limits on time and money spent betting, specific requirements for the inclusion of help/prevention messages in external marketing.
- Assign a regulatory agency to enforce the regulations and requirements that are enacted.
- Conduct surveys of the prevalence of gambling addiction prior to expansion and at regular periods thereafter in order to monitor impacts of legalized sports betting and have data that will support evidence-based mitigation efforts.
- Establish a consistent minimum age for sports gambling and related fantasy games.