Coalition for

Responsible Sports Betting Advertising




Members of the Coalition


Latest News

PGA TOUR joins Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising

Formation of Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising Announced

Coalition establishes guardrails for how sports betting should be marketed to consumers, TOUR also renews role with National Council on Problem Gambling's Leadership Circle

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - The PGA TOUR today announced its latest initiatives to elevate sports betting responsibility, as the league has joined the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising while also renewing its position within the Leadership Circle of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).


Established by the NFL and FOX in 2023, the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising is a voluntary association of sports leagues and media entities committed to doing their part to help ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising. By extending its relationship with the NCPG, the TOUR joins several other leading sports organizations in helping NCPG further ensure the viability of its overall operations, sustainability, future growth and innovation.

"With the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, the PGA TOUR remains committed to establishing a safe and healthy marketplace for consumers," said Scott Warfield, PGA TOUR Vice President, Gaming. "The TOUR is proud to stand alongside its fellow sports leagues and network partners on the coalition, as well as with our colleagues at the NCPG, in our continued mission to educate fans on the merits of gambling responsibly and the resources available to address problem gambling issues."

Consisting of the PGA TOUR, National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, Women's National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NBC Sports, and FOX, the coalition has committed to implement and maintain consumer protection policies consistent with the following six principles:

  • 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.


"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," the coalition said in a joint statement. "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."

In renewing its Leadership Circle position within NCPG, the PGA TOUR will continue to support the national advocate that seeks to minimize the economic and social costs associated with gambling addiction. The TOUR will once again roll out a cross-platform marketing campaign in support of the NCPG's Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March, an initiative that brings elevated messaging around problem gambling education and resources throughout the month.

"The PGA TOUR's continuous investment in responsible gambling and problem gambling education initiatives exemplifies its leadership in navigating the evolving landscape of legalized sports betting with integrity and responsibility," said Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

These partnerships are the latest in a string of progressive and industry-leading sports betting initiatives by the PGA TOUR. Following the Supreme Court's decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the TOUR instituted a robust integrity program that includes monitoring for suspicious activity within global golf betting markets, monitoring betting activity of covered persons under its integrity policy, as well as significant investments in responsible gambling and problem gambling education initiatives.

NEW YORK, NY, April 19, 2023 - The formation of the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising, a voluntary association of sports leagues and media entities committed to doing their part to help ensure a responsible approach to sports betting advertising, was announced today.


Consisting of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, Women's National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NBCUniversal, and FOX, the coalition has committed to implement and maintain consumer protection policies consistent with the following six principles:

  • 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.


"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."




Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting
Advertising Principles





01.

Sports Betting Should be Marketed Only to Adults of Legal Betting Age



The content of sports betting advertising, marketing and promotion should primarily appeal to individuals of legal betting age, and sports betting should never be endorsed or otherwise promoted by any person who is, or appears to be, below such legal age.

Sports betting promotional materials should (i) only appear in media where a significant majority of the audience is reasonably expected to be of legal betting age and (ii) never primarily appeal to children in content or theme.





02.

Sports Betting Advertising Should Not Promote Irresponsible or Excessive Gambling or Degrade the Consumer Experience



Sports betting advertisements should always contain a clear, prominent responsible gaming message, including information on responsible gambling resources, and never be directed to individuals known by the advertiser to be self-excluded. Gambling advertising, promotion and other integrations that encourage irresponsible gambling or degrade the consumer experience (e.g., by appearing excessively) should also be avoided.





03.

Sports Betting Advertisements Should Not Be Misleading



Sports betting advertisements should never be false, deceptive or misleading. For example, sports betting advertisements and marketing should not promote unrealistic expectations of financial gain, or suggest that social, financial or personal success is guaranteed by engaging in sports betting. Nor should any such messaging state or imply that a bet is without risk if the customer must incur any loss, or risk the customer's own money, to use or withdraw winnings from such bet.





04.

Sports Betting Advertisements Should Be In Good Taste



Sports betting advertisements should (i) adhere to contemporary standards of good taste applicable to all commercial messaging, taking into consideration the applicable medium and advertising context and (ii) never undermine public perception of sports or their integrity.





05.

Publishers Should Have Appropriate Internal Reviews of Sports Betting Advertising



Publishers showing sports betting advertising should (i) provide appropriate training to their relevant employees regarding responsible sports betting advertising policies and (ii) implement internal processes to ensure compliance with such policies. To the extent possible, such processes should include a separate review of advertising and marketing materials by company employees outside the marketing and sponsorship departments.





06.

Publishers Should Review Consumer Complaints Pertaining to Sports Betting Advertising



Publishers showing sports betting advertising should develop and implement a process to review consumer complaints pertaining to that advertising.






Coalition of Responsible Sports
Betting Advertising Quotes





National Football League


"We're proud to join these prominent sports industry stakeholders in this important effort. Legalized sports betting offers fans another way to engage with their favourite sports, but just as we must support problem gambling prevention and resourcing, we must also remain mindful of how sports betting is presented and advertised to consumers, and this coalition should greatly aid in that cause."







Major League Baseball


"Forming this coalition with fellow leaders in sports and entertainment is another important step for our industry as legal sports betting continues to grow. While providing new fan engagement opportunities to enjoy our sport in more ways, we have to continue to be mindful and deliberate with how these sports betting options are presented and to whom they're directed. Layering this coalition's work in the advertising arena on top of our efforts to promote responsible gambling and address problem gambling challenges will lead to more thoughtful planning and implementation across the board."







Major League Soccer


"As betting on soccer continues to have a strong presence around the world, it becomes increasingly imperative to educate the fans about responsible gambling. A big part of this is how sports betting is marketed and promoted. That's why we are committed to joining this important coalition of leaders in the sports industry. This is an opportunity to work together to implement guardrails and ensure that sports betting advertising is done appropriately and thoughtfully."







NASCAR


"As the number of fans engaging with our sport continues to grow through the legalization of sports betting and gaming, it is critical that we play a meaningful role as a coalition member to ensure the availability to bet on sports is presented to fans in an appropriate and responsible manner. Moving forward in this space, responsible sports betting advertising will join responsible betting education as the two pillars that make up the foundation of our gaming strategy."







National Basketball Association, Women's National Basketball Association


"The NBA and the WNBA are proud to join this coalition of industry leaders dedicated to prioritizing and standardizing responsible sports betting advertising. These fundamental efforts will contribute to creating a safe, entertaining and sustainable market for sports fans to engage with legalized sports betting."







National Hockey League


"As more sports fans have the opportunity to legally and responsibly bet in their home states, the fan experience continues to be one of our utmost priorities. We are proud to be part of this coalition of leagues and media entities to publicly state our ongoing commitment - with our partners - to promoting responsible advertising for sports betting."







FOX


"FOX and FOX Sports are proud to be charter members of this broad and important coalition. As America's leader in live sports, we are committed to providing fans a responsible and ethical engagement with sports betting, keeping the integrity of the games and our broadcasts at the forefront at all times."