The PGA is joining the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising as part of a broader effort by US-facing leagues and sports betting operators to promote safe gambling. It’s a move that underscores the awareness that these groups have of the rapid proliferation of regulated sports in the United States and the impact it’s having on society as a whole.
The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting was founded last year by the NFL and Fox and includes some name-brand sports leagues and networks including MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and NBC Sports. Members of the group voluntarily adhere to a code based on six basic principle including:
- Sports betting should be marketed only to adults of legal betting age.
- Sports betting advertising should not promote irresponsible or excessive gambling or degrade the consumer experience.
- Sports betting advertisements should not be misleading.
- Sports betting advertisements should be in good taste.
- Publishers should have appropriate internal reviews of sports betting advertising.
- Publishers should review consumer complaints pertaining to sports betting advertising.
The Coalition explained its efforts in a recent press release saying, “As the legalization of sports betting spreads nationwide, we feel it is critical to establish guardrails around how sports betting should be advertised to consumers across the United States. Each member of the coalition feels a responsibility to ensure sports betting advertising is not only targeted to an appropriate audience but also that the message is thoughtfully crafted and carefully delivered.”
As sports betting, and gambling as a whole, increases it’s likely that self-regulation of this type will be more and more common for operators and leagues alike.