A group of professional sports leagues are making efforts to promote responsible gaming.
The NBA, MLB, and the NHL have partnered together to deliver a responsible gaming campaign that is aimed at educating bettors on the unpredictability of sports. The campaign — "Never Know What's Next” — has garnered support from some of America’s largest operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, and PENN Entertainment. The three pro sports leagues have also received support from the National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG).
"This campaign continues our ongoing commitment to educating fans about the importance of responsible betting," said NHL chief business officer Keith Wachtel in a statement. "With more fans than ever having the opportunity to legally bet in their home states, it is imperative that we work with our media and sportsbook partners, as well as with our friends at the NBA and MLB, to inform and emphasize the risks and encourage the importance of setting limits and betting responsibly.”
The NBA, MLB, and the NHL will be premiering their campaign on Nov. 21 during an NBA In-Season Tournament game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers on TNT.
Ahead of the game
The new campaign excludes America’s most popular professional sports league — the NFL.
“The NFL has been focused on responsible gaming for years — this is nothing new for us and frankly we have taken a leadership role in this area,” a league spokesman told Ad Age.
The league isn’t included as it launched its own responsible gaming campaign in 2021. The initiative has seen the NFL commit $6.2 million to educate, prevent, and treat problem gaming.
The league secured a three-year partnership with the NCPG to launch the national campaign. The partnership includes TV spots, a toll-free hotline, and messaging across media platforms.
