DraftKings and UFC Enhance Partnership with New Responsible Gaming Campaign

James Bisson - Head of Content, Betting
James Bisson • Head of Content, Betting 16+ years betting experience
Updated: Jun 4, 2025 , 05:09 PM ET • 4 min read

With UFC 316 Saturday, June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, one sports betting platform teamed up with the organization to issue a brand-new responsible gaming campaign.

Photo By - Imagn Images.

With UFC 316 scheduled for Saturday, June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, one sportsbook teamed up with the organization to issue a brand-new responsible gaming campaign.

DraftKings announced Wednesday it joined forces with UFC to launch a new responsible gaming ad campaign, underscoring the two brands’ shared commitment to encouraging responsible play.

Key takeaways

  • DraftKings, UFC collaborate with new responsible gaming ads.
  • The ads will feature UFC lead play-by-play announcer Jon Anik.
  • The ads debut at Saturday's UFC 316 card at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The following ads will be released later this week: the 15-second spot here and 30-second spot here.

The new ads premiere Friday, June 6 at UFC 316's ceremonial weigh-in, followed by two 30-second in-arena spots Saturday. A 15-second version will also air during UFC 318’s PPV broadcast on Saturday, July 19, with additional placements across social media later this year.

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Jon Anik part of the campaign

The campaign features UFC lead play-by-play announcer Jon Anik delivering a concise message about responsible play among UFC fans and bettors, highlighting key tools widely available through DraftKings’ Responsible Gaming Center, including its "My Stat Sheet", which helps customers track and manage their play.

“Responsible gaming is a core part of who we are at DraftKings, and we’re always looking for impactful ways to expand awareness and education,” said DraftKings Chief Responsible Gaming Officer Lori Kalani. “UFC provides a tremendous platform to amplify that message to a broad and passionate audience. We’re proud to collaborate on this campaign to reinforce that responsible gaming is for everyone.”

DraftKings was named UFC’s first-ever Official Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Partner in the U.S. and Canada in 2021.

Saturday's 12-fight card, highlighted by two title bouts, can be found here and seen on ESPN and ESPN+.

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James Bisson
Head of Content, Betting

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.

A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.

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