As the popularity of mobile gaming soars, online sportsbook and iGaming operators are taking greater steps to address problem gambling, and one of the industry’s leaders, FanDuel, is partnering with a former NBA pro to focus those efforts on young adults.
Early Education
FanDuel has recently partnered with former NBA player Randy Livingston and his wife, sports agent Anita Smith, in a targeted effort to engage parents, guardians, and coaches in discussions about the risks young people may encounter when it comes to gambling and the resources available to combat the problem.
The website the collaborative has created is “Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting.” The website lists a comprehensive approach for parents and guardians to follow regarding the potential for problem gambling issues that may arise with those young people to whom they parent or mentor.
How Can Adults Help? is a section directly addressing what parents and mentors can do to stem possible gambling problems with their youths.
- Be conscious about gambling exposure and the importance of modeling.
- Learn about risk factors and get informed.
- Have the conversation. Just like drugs or alcohol, gambling addiction is serious and can have life-threatening consequences.
- Keep an eye out for warning signs. Youths constantly talking about sports betting, seeking to borrow money, behavior changes, and extreme mood swings could be signs of a gambling problem taking hold.
- Establish trust and encourage communication. Encourage them to come forward with any problems.
Personal Experience
Randy Livingston is not a name you are likely to remember, even if you are an ardent NBA fan, as he was a journeyman who played with nine different NBA and international teams over the course of his 11-year career. However, at 49, he is a basketball coach of a small private high school, Isidore Newman School, located in New Orleans, and an advocate for responsible gambling.
With the help of FanDuel, Livingston shares his painful struggle and subsequent recovery from problem gambling in a video series that he has collaborated on with his wife, sports agent Anita Smith.
“As legal sports betting continues to become more accessible, I knew I wanted to use my experience to help families engage in proactive and informed conversations about gambling,” Livingston said in a press release. “It became apparent to me and Anita that FanDuel shares our goal of helping parents navigate these tough but important conversations.”
FanDuel has also partnered with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to provide mental health resources to those who self-exclude from its sports betting or iGaming platform. The program was previously available only in New Jersey and Ohio but is now a nationwide outreach program to all its customers.
Alison Kutler, Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Gaming for FanDuel, stated, “Our team works year-round at FanDuel to equip and support our customers to play responsibly. As we mark Problem Gambling Awareness Month, I’m excited to work with a growing roster of partners to expand access to problem gambling support resources.”
