The National Basketball Association (NBA) has become the latest major sports organization to join the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly” public service campaign.
Under the arrangement, the NBA will work with the AGA to educate basketball fans about responsible sports betting by providing turnkey resources for use by the league’s 30 teams.
Campaign content for the initiative will include a range of in-venue, broadcast, digital and social media activations.
The NBA already has a number of its own responsible gambling schemes in place including public service announcements airing during games, restrictions on sports betting adverts, membership with the National Council on Problem Gambling, and an ‘opt-in’ focus that provides platforms for fans to engage with sports betting.
“Responsible gaming is an integral component of the NBA’s approach to legal sports betting,” NBA senior vice president and head of gaming and new business ventures, Scott Kaufman-Ross, said. “Working with the AGA on this initiative is an important part of our multifaceted approach to this critical topic and will provide our teams with tools to make a true impact on responsible gaming education in NBA markets across the US and Canada.”
Launched in 2019, the Have A Game Plan campaign focuses on four principles of responsible wagering: set a budget and stick to it; keep it social; know the odds; and play with legal, regulated operators.
Aside from the NBA, other leading sports organizations that support the campaign include Major League Baseball, golf’s PGA Tour, Nascar and NBA franchise the New York Knicks. In addition, the AGA has secured the support of wagering operators such as DraftKings, Entain, FanDuel, BetMGM, Rush Street Interactive and Penn Entertainment.
“As one of the world’s most popular leagues, the NBA will bring Have A Game Plan’s important message to a massive audience,” said AGA senior vice president Casey Clark. “It’s critical that the entire sports betting ecosystem is united in our commitment to responsible gaming, and we are grateful for the NBA’s leadership in these efforts.”