Seven of the largest US online gambling operators teamed up to form a trade group to promote responsible gambling.



The following gambling operators joined forces to launch the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) :




BetMGM



bet365



DraftKings



Fanatics Betting and Gaming



FanDuel



Hard Rock Digital



PENN Entertainment




For the first time, the operators will share information about players who are excluded due to problem gambling.



Initial member companies represent over 85% of the legalized US online sports betting and online casino market. They have pledged more than $20 million in support of ROGA’s mission in year one.



An iGaming veteran and a prominent responsible gambling expert to lead ROGA



Dr. Jennifer Shatley will lead the group as a respected responsible gaming official with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She will serve as ROGA’s full-time executive director, providing widespread responsible gaming education to all relevant parties.



Dr. Shatley said in the ROGA press release 1 :




“I am humbled, honored, and excited to be selected to lead ROGA during this important period of growth in legalized mobile gaming. Many of America’s largest legal mobile gaming operators will be establishing a framework that helps to aid in responsible gaming education and awareness.



Together, our members will work alongside researchers, experts, regulators and stakeholders to promote responsible online gaming and maximize our efforts to support additional responsible gaming education and awareness. By coming together with a clear set of objectives, ROGA and our members will work to enhance consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy the entertainment of online gaming.”




Shatley is the president of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and is a National Council on Problem Gambling member. She also co-chairs the Compliance Review Board for the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering.



Under Dr. Shatley’s direction, ROGA members will work together on a series of initiatives, including:




Research



Consumer and industry-responsible gaming education and awareness



Promoting responsible gambling best practices



Creation of an independent data clearinghouse



Independent certification program




Problem gambling rises with expansion of legal US online gambling



Legal sports betting is currently allowed in thirty-eight US states and Washington, DC, while seven states allow online casinos.



This year, a record number of Americans placed bets on the Super Bowl LVIII. During that weekend, GeoComply said 2 it saw 8.5 million active accounts across states where online sports betting is legal. This represents a 15% increase over last year’s Super Bowl.



According to ESPN’s report 3  on AGA’s recent research, the NCAA tournaments could attract nearly $2.7 billion in legal bets during this year’s tournaments. If so, that would be twice as much as is anticipated to have been wagered during the 2024 Super Bowl.



Held every March,  Problem Gambling Awareness Month  is an annual campaign that aims to increase public awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment and recovery services.



The ROGA launch is one of many examples showing  gambling companies’ initiative to provide effective solutions  for individuals who struggle with gambling.



Although notably absent from the ROGA members list, Caesars focuses on prohibiting players under 21 from signing up for an account. Players under 21 cannot open a Caesars rewards account, even in states like Rhode Island or Kentucky, where the minimum age requirement is 18 .



SOURCES


New Trade Association Launches Unprecedented Effort to Strengthen Responsible Online Gaming, Promote Best Practices ︎ GeoComply: Super Bowl LVIII weekend volumes increase 22% year-over-year as US legal online betting grows ︎ Estimate projects $2.72B in wagers on NCAA basketball tournaments ︎ The post Top US Online Gaming Companies Launch Responsible Gaming Trade Association appeared first on Play USA .