In a groundbreaking move, seven of the nation’s largest gaming companies have come together to form the Responsible Online Gaming Association, or ROGA. This new trade group aims to promote responsible gaming practices and for the first time ever, will share information about problem gamblers.
The members of ROGA include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Penn Entertainment, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, Hard Rock Digital, and bet365, collectively accounting for more than 85% of the legal online betting market in the United States. Together, they have pledged over $20 million to fund ROGA’s initiatives.
“I’m incredibly excited to move this forward and to really do some impactful things and to really expand the knowledge through research and to create evidence-based best practices and empower players with information,” said Jennifer Shatley, executive director of ROGA.
ROGA members have committed to working together on various issues including education, responsible gaming best practices, conscientious advertising, and marketing across the industry. They will also establish an independent clearinghouse to share key information related to consumer protection.
As the sports betting industry continues to see dramatic growth, with 38 states and Washington, D.C. now offering legal sports wagering, concerns about problem gambling have also been raised. An estimated 2 million U.S. adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, highlighting the importance of promoting responsible gaming practices.
To address these challenges, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York has introduced legislation to regulate gambling advertising, limit deposits, and restrict the use of artificial intelligence in acquiring customers. The gambling industry is working to self-regulate and prevent harsher regulatory frameworks from being imposed.
While some are skeptical of ROGA’s intentions, the industry as a whole is focused on improving customer protections and promoting responsible gaming practices. The push for responsible gambling is not just a moral imperative but also makes good business sense, according to Peter Jackson, CEO of Flutter, the parent company of FanDuel.
As legal operators strive to improve responsible gambling, the illegal marketplace continues to be a concern, prompting calls for state regulators to crack down on black market operators. Overall, the push for responsible gaming is a step in the right direction for the industry and the millions of Americans who engage in legal sports wagering.
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