Daily fantasy sports giant PrizePicks has partnered with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to help prevent problem gambling on its platforms.
Kindbridge, a mental health service provider dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges related to problem gambling, will provide its clinical services at no initial fee to PrizePicks players and customer-facing employees. The program will support problem gaming prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.
PrizePicks will absorb all initial costs of Kindbridge services such as clinical assessments and reviews and educational and peer support groups for eligible individuals in a move that the company says sets a new benchmark in the DFS industry.
The DFS operator’s co-founder and CEO Adam Wexler and Kindbridge founder and CEO Daniel Umfleet said the nature of the partnership removes “a significant barrier to access” for players seeking help.
“It’s essential that the fantasy sports industry invests and innovates in the area of responsible gaming,” added Wexler. “This initiative not only helps players and employees but also strengthens PrizePicks’ role in promoting social responsibility within the industry. By addressing both prevention and treatment, we are paving the way for a healthier gaming community.”
Kindbridge has numerous big-name partners in the gaming industry, such as sports betting titans including DraftKings and BetMGM, as well as other stakeholders such as US Integrity.
Umfleet said on an SBC Summit North America Player Protection Symposium panel last month that more and more major players in the gaming and betting industry are turning to resources like Kindbridge’s.
“I’m starting to see an innovative space where both operators and healthcare are very interested in starting a conversation across the country, which I think the country is desperate for,” he told attendees in May.
PrizePicks appoints new RG specialist
Umfleet said of the PrizePicks partnership that it is “inspiring” to see a DFS operator looking to be proactive in protecting their players.
“Many individuals struggling with gaming-related health issues face significant financial barriers, even with insurance, which hinders their ability to follow a comprehensive care plan,” he added. “This collaboration is a pivotal step toward eliminating these barriers, ensuring people can access the support they need, regardless of their financial situation.”
PrizePicks signalled its intention to place emphasis on player protection when it hired a new responsible gambling specialist in April.
The Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health‘s Chief Communications Officer, Phil Sherwood, took up the role of PrizePicks’ Senior Director of Responsible Gaming. The operator projected that Sherwood’s “unique perspective and strategic vision will help position PrizePicks as the gold standard in responsible gaming within the fantasy sports industry.”
At the MACGH, Sherwood had been integral in the council introducing player protection measures such as the first statewide Remote Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) Program and a 24/7 LiveChat platform. He was also previously the President of the Board of Directors for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
2024 a year of change for PrizePicks
The hiring of Sherwood, as well as former Warner Bros. Discovery and Turner Sports executive Renee White being named as Chief People Officer, follow some major operational changes for PrizePicks in 2024 as several states reassess how they approach daily fantasy sports.
In the first half of 2024, PrizePicks ceased operation in states including New York, Arkansas and Florida, although it subsequently re-entered the latter of those states with a shifted focus towards its peer-to-peer PrizePicks Arena game.
