US sports betting giant FanDuel has announced initiatives and financial support aimed at promoting responsible play during Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
FanDuel and Kindbridge Behavioral Health (Kindbridge), a mental health service provider that helps people with problem gambling issues, are teaming up as part of these efforts. The partnership will initially concentrate on a pilot program in New Jersey and Ohio that provides direct access to comprehensive mental health assessments and group support services for self-excluded players.
Via telehealth services, the pilot initiative will offer resources to those in need, enabling them to make immediate appointments with skilled outpatient treatment specialists for problem gambling. As part of the program, those in New Jersey and Ohio who self-exclude from the FanDuel platform will now be eligible to a free mental health evaluation as well as a variety of peer support and educational programs that are intended to help them in their recovery process.
Alison Kutler, Vice President of sustainability and Responsible Gaming for FanDuel, said: “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.”
FanDuel's Alison Kutler
Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge Behavioral Health, said: “We are thrilled to be working with FanDuel to offer vital mental health support for players in need. This collaboration is deeply resonant, extending a compassionate hand to those navigating the complex terrain of problem gambling. At the heart of our ethos lies a fervent belief in the power of accessible mental health resources to illuminate paths toward healing and recovery.”
As part of its new initiatives, FanDuel will also donate $150,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to support the NCPG’s Agility Grants program, which is funded by the NFL via the NFL Foundation. Through this program, non-profit groups nationwide can get funds to extend their current programming or to prevent problem gambling in places where there are currently no services.
FanDuel will additionally contribute an extra $150,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), an organization that uses scientific research and evidence-based educational programming to support people impacted by gambling disorders and to stop gambling problems before they start. The donation will strengthen capabilities to recognize possible harm, reduce risk, and increase responsible gambling programs, as well as help support research to better understand gambling behavior in the United States.
“Investing in prevention is key to mitigating gambling-related harm,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “We appreciate FanDuel’s support of NCPG and their proactive and collaborative approach to providing problem gambling prevention, research and treatment resources.”
“FanDuel’s support continues to play a huge role in ICRG’s research and development,” stated Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG. “We are honored to work with FanDuel as we commit to advocating for the importance of responsible gaming.”
Throughout March, FanDuel will also be rewarding the use of responsible gaming tools including deposit, wager and time limits in select retail locations across the US. Customers who show a staff member that they are using a tool to manage their play will be offered a FanDuel ‘Play Well’ branded gift for playing responsibly. This promotion will be available beginning in mid-March in Phoenix, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
The initiatives are part of FanDuel’s owner Flutter Entertainment’s global sustainability strategy, the Positive Impact Plan. The group has set a goal for 50% of online customers globally to be using a responsible gaming tool by the end of 2026.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/03/11/71192-fanduel-unveils-mental-health-financial-support-initiatives-to-promote-responsible-play
