The NHL joins AGA and expands its responsible sportsbetting message

AGA research concluded that the NHL’s yearly revenue may increase up to $216 million a year due to sportsbetting

The National Hockey League has partnered up with the American Gaming Association to encourage responsible gaming directly to fans through an extensive public service campaign inside the arenas.

Such a partnership will be discussed during a session at the virtual Global Gaming Expo 2020 which will outline how methods are to be conducted. Such methods may include in-arena video boards, public address announcements, and other material to promote the “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaign.

This roll-out strategy was first revealed by the AGA in March at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, concurrently, just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced college and professional sports to shut down.

The senior director for strategic communications and responsibility for the AGA, Cait DeBaun, specified in an email that the “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaig will now go beyond the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights.

DeBaun stated “With the NHL as campaign partner, the league is developing custom resources for NHL clubs in legal sports betting jurisdictions to implement online and in-arena,”

Since the nationwide legalization of sportsbetting back in May 2018, the NHL and its teams have solidified various data sharing and marketing partnerships with gaming operators and suppliers. With this, it can be noted that almost half of the 23 states, including Washington D.C that have had sportsbetting legalized are home to NHL teams. AGA research has concluded that the NHL’s yearly revenue may see an increase of up to $216 million a year due to legal sports betting.

Chief of Business at the NHL Mr Keith Wachtel mentioned that “The fan experience remains one of our highest priorities, as more hockey fans than ever have the opportunity to legally and responsibly bet in their home states,” he also continued to state “Ensuring that our passionate fans know how to participate in this exciting new opportunity is important, and we’re thrilled to be working with the AGA to share the responsibility in this worthy education.”

Being that the NHL is an official campaign partner, the Hockey league is developing custom resources for NHL clubs in legal sports betting jurisdictions to implement online and in-arena. The AGA’s “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” initiative that encourages sports betters to follow responsible gaming protocols.

Such protocols include setting a budget, keeping betting social, knowing the odds, and playing with trusted, regulated operators.

The NHL has followed NASCAR suite in becoming the second professional league to adopt this campaign. NASCAR had announced its partnership with the AGA in mid-September.

CEO for the AGA, Mr Bill Miller mentioned during a statement that, “Teams and leagues are increasingly embracing sports betting as they explore new fan engagement opportunities during COVID-19,” going on to say that “educating patrons about how to engage in this activity responsibly is critical to the success of the sports betting opportunity as it continues to expand throughout the country.”

The HaveAGamePlan.org Website provided resources for responsible wagering, which includes legal locations for regulated sportsbooks along with how to seek help should sport betting no longer be a fun and affordable source or entertainment.

About SiGMA’s revamped website:

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