Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce makes a catch for a touchdown in the primary quarter past the defense of Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps during Super Bowl LVII Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona.
Wealthy Sugg | Kansas City Star | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
The nation’s top skilled leagues are teaming up with some TV broadcasters to tackle irresponsible sports-betting promoting.
The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, NASCAR, and MLS have joined media firms NBCUniversal and Fox to form The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Promoting. The coalition, led by NFL vp of public policy and government affairs, Jonathan Nabavi, goals to control sports-betting promoting because it floods television, web and print media.
The move comes as sports betting becomes legal in additional states and opponents worry its promoting targets minors.
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have launched legal betting markets since a landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court case paved the best way for any state to supply legal sports wagering.
In 2022, industrial sports-betting revenue hit a high of $7.5 billion, an almost 75% increase from 2021’s record of $4.3 billion, in keeping with the American Gaming Association.
“Because the legalization of sports betting spreads nationwide, we feel it’s critical to determine guardrails around how sports betting needs to be advertised to consumers across america,” the coalition said in a press release Wednesday. “Each member of the coalition feels a responsibility to make sure sports betting promoting just isn’t only targeted to an appropriate audience, but additionally that the message is thoughtfully crafted and punctiliously delivered.”
The coalition describes itself as voluntary and said it would work to make sure sports-betting promoting only targets adults of legal betting age; doesn’t promote excessive or irresponsible gambling habits; stays in good taste; and is not misleading.
The group also calls for publishers to implement appropriate internal reviews of advertisements and to review consumer complaints.
“Legalized sports betting offers fans one other strategy to engage with their favorite sports,” said David Highhill, general manager of sports betting for the NFL. “But just as we must support problem-gambling prevention and resourcing, we must also remain mindful of how sports betting is presented and advertised to consumers, and this coalition should greatly aid in that cause.”
The National Council on Problem Gambling has commended the coalition and promised to work in collaboration with it to “higher mitigate problem gambling related harm.”
Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC.
