The National Football League (NFL) has reinforced its commitment to preventing problem gambling by extending its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
The NFL Foundation’s new three-year, $6.4m commitment to the NCPG follows an initial $6.2m grant awarded in October 2021, the largest in the NCPG’s nearly 50-year history. This additional funding will support the continued growth of the NCPG’s initiatives, allowing the organisation to sustain and build upon the progress achieved since 2021.
Three key NCPG initiatives are supported by the NFL’s funding: modernising the National Problem Gambling Helpline, launching the Agility Grants programme and expanding awareness efforts.
The Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) will be upgraded to improve efficiency, expanding access across the country and ensuring high-quality care for all callers. The Agility Grants programme, the first national initiative of its kind, aims to reach communities that are underserved by existing problem gambling prevention efforts.
Additionally, awareness campaigns, including the ResponsiblePlay.org website, aim to educate the public and supporters about responsible gambling practices.
Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP of Social Responsibility, said: “Our partnership with NCPG underscores the vital impact of their work and our ongoing commitment to advocate for and support responsible gambling initiatives.
“We are proud to leverage our platform and resources with NCPG’s expertise to raise awareness, provide education and help prevent problem gambling. We look forward to our continued partnership with NCPG and expanding the reach of their impactful programmes.”
In a release, the NCPG emphasised that as the sports betting landscape evolves, this renewed commitment is essential to meeting the growing demand for resources in responsible and problem gambling.
Sports gambling was legalised in the US in 2018, leading to a patchwork of state-specific rules and regulations. As in other countries where sports betting is permitted, ongoing efforts are necessary to address and prevent problem gambling.
In the UK, for example, comprehensive regulations and resources have been established to manage gambling-related issues. The UK Gambling Commission oversees the industry, ensuring operators adhere to strict guidelines for responsible gambling.
Much like this partnership, sports leagues and organisations often play their part in helping to solve these issues.
For example, William Hill recently became the title sponsor of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). To emphasise safe gambling, EPIC Global Solutions was also included in the deal to deliver courses on gambling harm to SPFL players, staff and fans.
Impact of the grant
Three years after the initial grant, the National Problem Gambling Helpline has made significant improvements, as funding has supported technological upgrades, increased staffing and enhanced data collection across the 28 contact centres within the Helpline Network.
The grant also allowed for nationwide licensing of the aforementioned 1-800-GAMBLER number, consolidating multiple state-specific helplines into one, which aims to ensure smoother routing to appropriate state centres. This has led to a 104% increase in helpline use from 2020 to 2023, primarily due to greater promotion and awareness.
Regarding the Agility Grants, they address gaps in problem gambling prevention efforts across the US by funding projects aimed at high-risk groups, including middle and high school students, college students and communities disproportionately impacted by problem gambling.
These grants support programmes targeting both primary prevention (for those who haven’t yet gambled) and secondary prevention (for those with limited gambling experience). So far, nearly $1m in grants have been awarded to 26 programmes across 17 states, reaching over 40,000 individuals.
An example of a funded programme is Freedom House of Mecklenburg’s “Problem Gambling Primary and Secondary Prevention Curriculum Development.” This collaborative initiative involves implementing an evidence-based problem gambling prevention curriculum in 49 middle schools within the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools district.
A key focus of the NCPG’s efforts is raising awareness and advocating for responsible gambling. The organisation’s initiatives have greatly increased public understanding of responsible gambling practices and resources for gambling addiction.
A notable achievement was the launch of the ResponsiblePlay.org website in 2021, which has attracted around 750,000 visitors. The site offers tips for keeping gambling enjoyable, provides essential information about problem gambling and guides individuals on where to find help.
“We are profoundly grateful for the NFL’s renewed investment in NCPG, which will enable us to grow the essential prevention, education and awareness initiatives that were established through their initial grant,” Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director stated.
“This partnership has been instrumental in advancing our mission of minimising gambling-related harm. We look forward to building on the significant progress we’ve made together over the past three years and exploring new avenues for impact.”
