The top professional baseball league in the United States, Major League Baseball (MLB), has teamed up with the American Gaming Association (AGA) and their “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” public awareness campaign to increase their efforts in promoting responsible gambling.
Starting with the 2022 playoffs, MLB will broadcast public service announcements about responsible sports betting on selected MLB broadcasts and digital media channels as part of the “Have a Game Plan” partnership.
The league will also provide partnership opportunities to all 30 MLB teams, while the AGA will enhance responsible gambling awareness throughout the league through benchmarking and best practices training, and will provide MLB with consulting and expertise.
As part of the agreement, MLB will also expand its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) by becoming a Platinum Member and joining the organization’s leadership group.
MLB was the first professional sports league to register as an NCPG member in 2005 and will work closely with Executive Director Keith Whyte’s team on initiatives related to problem gambling and promote the NCPG’s National Problem Gambling Helpline across its various media platforms.
The expansion of legal wagering across the United States has prompted Major League Baseball to prioritize providing fans who engage in betting with the essential tools and resources for responsible wagering. “By leveraging the expertise and supplementary resources of the Gambling Association and the National Council on Problem Gambling, we can further enhance our responsible gambling endeavors, propelling new educational initiatives, awareness campaigns, and support service programs to ensure that sports betting remains safe, enjoyable, and entertaining for all participants,” declared Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President of Business Development.
Casey Clark, Senior Vice President of the Gambling Association, chimed in, “We extend a warm welcome to Major League Baseball to the ‘Make a Plan’ partnership, a momentous achievement for the campaign and responsible gambling efforts nationwide. MLB acknowledges that as legal sports betting flourishes, so does our collective dedication to responsibility. This collaboration will have a profound impact, enlightening fans across the nation about the fundamentals of responsible betting.”
White of the National Council on Problem Gambling also remarked, “We commend Major League Baseball’s unwavering commitment to addressing problem gambling and eagerly anticipate their expansion of efforts to provide responsible gambling education to fans and families nationwide. It is paramount to know where to seek assistance if gambling evolves into a problem. MLB’s extensive reach will have a substantial impact in raising awareness of the National Problem Gambling Hotline and the treatment resources available.”
Sign up for the iGaming News newsletter.