The PGA Tour is joining a group of professional sports leagues and media entities that support responsible sports betting advertising.
The organizer of pro golf tours in North America announced on Tuesday that it has joined the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, which launched in 2023. The PGA Tour, which has secured several marketing deals with gambling operators, has also renewed its Leadership Circle membership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
“With the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, the PGA Tour remains committed to establishing a safe and healthy marketplace for consumers,” said PGA Tour Vice President of Gaming Scott Warfield. “The Tour is proud to stand alongside its fellow sports leagues and network partners on the coalition, as well as with our colleagues at NCPG, in our continued mission to educate fans on the merits of gambling responsibly and the resources available to address problem gambling issues.”
The coalition, which was established in partnership with the NFL and FOX, features some of the largest entities in sports, including the NBA, MLB, NASCAR, and NBC Sports. The group aims to ensure and maintain consumer protection policies through six principles.
The principles include no promotion of irresponsible gambling, sports betting advertisements that are only aimed toward adults, internal reviews of marketing, and consumer complaints.
The coalition also requires gambling marketing that is in good taste and not misleading.
“As the legalization of sports betting spreads nationwide, we feel it is critical to establish guardrails around how sports betting should be advertised to consumers across the United States,” said the coalition in a joint statement. “Each member of the coalition feels a responsibility to ensure sports betting advertising is not only targeted to an appropriate audience but also that the message is thoughtfully crafted and carefully delivered.”
The PGA Tour and the NCPG will be collaborating on a cross-platform national marketing campaign in March, which is the council’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
