Responsible Gaming Council to develop college responsible gaming campaign

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 3:47 PM
  • Rege Behe, CDC Gaming

The Responsible Online Gaming Association Tuesday announced it will help develop a national college responsible gaming campaign with Epic Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and the Responsible Gambling Council.

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Scheduled to start in early 2025, ROGA and its partners will create and implement an evidence-based responsible gaming college education tailored to the needs of university students. The program will leverage digital delivery tools to provide responsible gaming and financial literacy education to students on campuses in the U.S.

“A main goal of ROGA is to promote responsible gaming education and awareness across various audiences, including the college-aged demographic,” said ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley in a statement. “While there are already great programs focused on student-athletes, there are very few resources currently available to the broader university student population.

“To fill that gap, ROGA is proud to be collaborating with leading organizations that bring diverse expertise and experiences in creating responsible gaming and problem gambling awareness programs that resonate with college-aged audiences. Our aim is to provide much needed information and resources about responsible gaming concepts, raise awareness of the consequences associated with problem gambling and available support services, and teach general financial literacy skills that will help students build and maintain good financial habits whether they choose to engage in gaming or not.”

In addition to raising awareness about responsible gaming concepts to help college students set realistic expectations and promote informed decision-making, the program hopes to humanize and destigmatize the issue of problem gambling through the integration of the lived experiences of individuals who have been affected by it.

“Having delivered in-person education to over 50,000 NCAA student-athletes and staff, Epic Global Solutions is delighted to work with ROGA to extend this important message to all college students,” said Epic Global Solutions VP of Partnerships Teresa Fiore. “By combining expert knowledge with personal stories of those who have experienced gambling related harm, this education is critical for young adults coming of age in a post-PASPA world.”

The program’s financial literacy education component will equip all students with important financial management skills related to budgeting, saving, and the risks associated with debt. Also, by ensuring students understand that responsible gaming is closely tied to good financial habits, the program will teach students who choose to engage in gaming how to set limits on their gaming expenses and to view online gaming and betting as entertainment, not as a way to make money.

“At Kindbridge Behavioral Health, we understand the unique challenges that college students face in balancing entertainment options, such as gaming behaviors, with academic and personal responsibilities,”  said Kindbridge Behavioral Health Founder and CEO Daniel Umfleet. “Partnering with ROGA on this national education campaign is a crucial step toward providing young adults with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed, financially responsible decisions about gaming. By focusing on education and promoting a balanced approach to student life, we aim to support healthier gaming habits and overall well-being on campuses across the country.”

The program will also address common myths and misperceptions around gaming, such as the illusion of control, while also explaining complex mathematical concepts such as odds, probability, and randomness.

“For over 20 years RGC has worked with young adults, post-secondary institutions, and leaders to understand the unique needs of this priority population,” said Responsible Gaming Council CEO Shelley White.  “All RGC prevention programs are evidence-based and customized to resonate with this hard-to-reach audience – through the message itself and how it’s communicated. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Responsible Online Gaming Association to speak to an even larger number of students with our prevention outreach messaging.”