The National Football League has partnered with the Responsible Gambling Council to develop and implement a responsible gambling training program designed for college student-athletes.
The NFL and RGC have identified student athletes as an important audience for targeted responsible gambling and problem gambling prevention initiatives, as previous research has shown their susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
“We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative,” NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson said in a statement. “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.”
The program will launch with a pilot phase at eight universities and colleges in Canada in the 2025 spring semester. Insights and feedback from this phase will be used to refine and improve the program before its broader rollout to 30 university and college institutions in the 2025-2026 school year.
“Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviors,” said Responsible Gambling Council CEO Sarah McCarthy. “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 initiative includes an evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and effect of the training. The NFL and RGC will explore opportunities to share the results and key learnings from the initiative with broader audiences to maximize its effect.
The program aims to equip student-athletes in Canada with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about gambling. RGC will design and develop a course tailored to the specific student-athlete audience and support a “training the trainer” at participating campuses.
The training program includes a specialized, interactive session featuring videos, interactive components and best practices for responsible gambling. After participating in the training student-athletes will:
- Understand the dangers, risks and odds of gambling and how players are likely to lose over time.
- Recognize their unique susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
- Identify the signs of gambling-related harms and the potential effect on players and loved ones.
- Learn about resources available for those experiencing gambling-related harms.
