NFL partners with Responsible Gambling Council to launch student training program
The National Football League today announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) to develop and implement a comprehensive responsible gambling training program specifically designed for university and college student-athletes.
The RGC and NFL have identified student athletes as an important audience for targeted responsible
gambling and problem gambling prevention initiatives, as previous research has shown their susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
The program will launch with a pilot phase at eight universities and colleges across Canada in the
upcoming 2025 spring semester. Insights and feedback from this phase will be used to refine and improve the program before its broader rollout to 30 university and college institutions in the 2025 – 2026 school year.
The initiative will include a robust evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and impact of the training. The NFL and RGC will explore opportunities to share the results and key learnings from this initiative with broader audiences to maximize its impact.
“Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics, and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviours,” said Sarah McCarthy, chief executive officer, Responsible Gambling Council. “Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student-athletes build capacities to succeed both on and off the field.”
“We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative,” said AnnaIsaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “Our shared goal is to equip these student- athletes with the tools and knowledge to navigate gambling risks, fostering a safer and more responsible environment. We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gambling efforts to benefit all those who play and engage with our game as fans.”
The program aims to equip student-athletes across Canada with the knowledge and tools necessary to
make informed decisions about gambling. RGC will design and develop a course that is tailored to the
specific student-athlete audience, and support in “training the trainer” at participating campuses, which is a key component in ensuring those delivering the training have the right tools and information to support the learning goals of the program.