The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) has unveiled a new national college responsible gambling education campaign.
In partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the Toronto-based Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), ROGA will develop and implement a comprehensive, evidence-based program specifically tailored to the unique needs of university-aged students.
The initiative will leverage digital delivery tools to provide responsible gambling and financial literacy education to students across diverse campuses and demographics throughout the U.S.
ROGA is an independent trade association of leading gaming operators. Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley said in a release that while some programs focused on student-athletes already exist, “there are very few resources currently available to the broader university student population.”
“To fill that gap, ROGA is proud to be collaborating with leading organizations that bring diverse expertise and experiences in creating responsible gaming and problem gambling awareness programs that resonate with college-aged audiences,” she added. “Our aim is to provide much-needed information and resources about responsible gaming concepts, raise awareness of the consequences associated with problem gambling and available support services, and teach general financial literacy skills that will help students build and maintain good financial habits whether they choose to engage in gaming or not.”
ROGA program focuses on RG awareness and financial literacy
One of the aims of the new college program is to raise awareness of RG-related concepts to help students set realistic expectations and promote informed decision-making about gambling. Another key aspect will be to humanize and destigmatize the issue of problem gambling through the integration of lived experiences of individuals who have been affected by it. The program will also address common myths and misperceptions around gaming, such as the illusion of control, especially as it relates to sports betting.
The program will include a financial literacy education component that aims to equip all students with important financial management skills related to budgeting, saving and the risks associated with debt, as well as educate them about the intrinsic ties between responsible gaming and financial health.
Each of ROGA’s partners on the initiative brings its own expertise. EPIC Global Solutions is a leading independent gambling harm minimization consulting firm. It has delivered in-person education to over 50,000 NCAA student-athletes and staff. Kindbridge is a mental health service provider dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges related to problem gaming. The RGC is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to problem gambling prevention.
To increase accessibility and reach, digital delivery tools will be broadly available to anyone in the college-age demographic, including individuals who are not enrolled in a university. The program will also work with select universities to pilot extended content and interactive tools to help evaluate and inform the program moving forward.
ROGA’s founding members were bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment, and Bally joined as the eighth member in July. Collectively, ROGA members have committed more than $20 million to fund academic research and consumer education and awareness campaigns, build an independent data clearinghouse of players who display high-risk attributes, develop an independent RG certification program for operators and drive both consumer- and industry-facing education and awareness initiatives.
