ESPN has announced a landmark partnership with the University of Nevada for responsible sports betting practices and media impact analysis.

SPN has announced a collaboration with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, becoming a founding donor of their new program dedicated to the study of, education on, and advisory services related to sports betting and its interaction with the media.

The $200,000 donation from ESPN hopes to kick start this first-of-its-kind program.

“We are thrilled to have ESPN’s support for research, education, and innovation in the responsible, sustainable representation of sports betting in the media. The growth of betting and gambling subjects in US media have exploded in the past five years. So, too, have calls for extended research and thought leadership alongside this proliferation of content. ESPN is a market leader in sports media, and collaboratively we will advance local, national, and global discussions on sports, while also establishing UNLV’s IGI as the academic hub for thought leadership in this important area.” -Brett Abarbanel, IGI executive director

“ESPN is proud to support this initiative at UNLV. Our investment reflects our commitment to ensuring that the world of sports betting is not only entertaining but also responsible. We are eager to work alongside UNLV’s International Gaming Institute in advancing industry standards.” -Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship