The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has partnered with America’s most popular professional sports league.
On Wednesday, the ICRG announced it reached a deal with the NFL to address the impact of gambling behaviors on college athletes and students. As part of the pact, the NFL Foundation is donating $600,000 over three years to fund research on the risk factors and impact of gambling on college athletes and students. The research, led by the ICRG, will help identify strategies to reduce gambling-related harm through education and policy.
The research will focus on how college students interact with gambling platforms.
“The NFL has once again demonstrated its commitment to player and fan protection by supporting this critical research targeting young adults,” said ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky. “The NFL and ICRG together will make a meaningful contribution to understanding and implementing policies and programs that support a safer gambling environment.”
The NFL is also helping the ICRG enhance its Talking with Children About Gambling campaign with updated materials and resources that provide parents, coaches and teachers with youth gambling education.
NFL invests in RG initiatives
The NFL is also a partner of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
In 2021, the two entities landed a deal to provide problem gambling prevention services and resources. Last year, the NFL and NCPG extended the partnership with a three-year, $6.4 million commitment from the NFL Foundation. The extension surpassed the NFL’s original $6.2 million pledge in 2021—the largest pledge the NCPG had ever received.
In Canada, the NFL partners with the Responsible Gambling Council to deliver RG training programs for student athletes at eight universities and colleges.
NCAA weighs a change of its gambling rules
The ICRG and the NFL are teaming up to research college gambling behavior as the NCAA considers a change of stance regarding its rules for wagering on professional sports.
According to a Sports Illustrated report, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors proposed removing the organization’s ban on wagering on professional sports. The board voted 21-1 in favor of adopting NCAA bylaws that lift the ban. Active bylaws prohibit sports betting by all players, coaches and team officials on professional sports that are also played at the NCAA level. Wagering on any competition sponsored by the NCAA is also prohibited.
The NCAA plans to maintain its current ban on wagering on college sports.
Last year, the NCAA’s ban on professional sports wagering impacted an SEC institution.
The University of Georgia terminated a former football staffer in July 2024 for violating the NCAA’s rules on professional sports betting. The staffer placed the wagers in August 2020 but the bets were not flagged for suspicious activity until nearly four years later.
