Sportradar has introduced a programme which supports athletes in responsible betting, as part of a partnership with several mental health and safer gambling organisations.
The Athlete Wellbeing initiative aims to reduce the impact of sports betting on professional sports people’s mental health, which has been developed by Sportradar Integrity Services (SIS) for leagues and federations, teams, and collegiate governing bodies.
Jim Brown, Head of Integrity Services and Athlete Wellbeing, North America, Sportradar said: “We believe that Sportradar has an important role in the greater sports ecosystem and a responsibility in helping our partners educate their athletes about the potential impact of sports betting and problem gambling on their mental health.
The core focus of SIS’ initiative will be on prevention and education, using a ‘comprehensive circulation’ involving on-demand virtual sessions, pre-recorded webinars and an in-person workshop.
Furthermore, Brown also described the initiative as a ‘natural step’ in continuing to protect the integrity of sport for all.
In support of the programme, Sportradar has cooperated with betting addiction and athlete mental health specialists such as gambling disorder treatment provider Kindbridge Behavioural Health, UCLA Gambling Studies Programme Co-Director Dr Timothy Fong and Brianne Doura-Schawohl.
Furthermore, the Swiss sportstech firm has also renewed its membership of the US-focused National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), which has provided advice on the development of Athlete Wellbeing.
Athlete education has been a key element of SIS’ integrity partnerships for some time, with the firm providing workshops to organisations such as the Brazilian Football Confederation and NASCAR around sports betting and integrity issues.
Keith S. Whyte, NCPG Executive Director, added: “We applaud Sportradar for creating their Athlete Wellbeing program to help protect athletes’ mental health, and we strongly support these efforts.
“As legalised sports betting expands across the country it is more important than ever to ensure gambling addiction prevention and education programs are in place for every league, sport, club, team and school.”
