Ohio for Responsible Gambling is taking steps to protect student-athletes from gambling-related harm.
The initiative has launched More Than A Bet, a new campaign aimed at fostering a safe environment in sports as the online sports betting industry continues to grow.
“The mental toll of online harassment is unacceptable,” said Ohio Casino Control Commission Chairman Tom Stickrath. “By learning about the issue and supporting student-athletes, we can change the narrative.”
The campaign is geared toward student-athletes and coaches and provides resources on how to deal with gambling-related harassment. More Than A Bet also provides educational tools on gambling-related harm for counselors, team officials and campus faculty.
More Than a Bet has a section exclusively geared toward coaches that provides educational tools to combat online abuse toward student-athletes. It also provides users with the opportunity to take an anonymous quiz to gauge their risk for a gambling disorder.
Ohio for Responsible Gambling has launched its new campaign as student-athletes across the country deal with online gambling-related harm. According to data provided by the NCAA, up to 25% of all student-athlete abuse regarding a sporting event is related to gambling. The abuse is nationally the fastest-growing form of athlete harassment.
Protection outside of Ohio
Ohio for Responsible Gambling has debuted a new campaign as a Power Four conference orders a new requirement for its institutions to protect student-athletes from abuse.
Last week, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced a mandate for its institutions to provide injury reports for football, baseball, and basketball. The reports are aimed at protecting student-athletes from gambling-related harm. The SEC has joined the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference as competitions requiring injury reports.
