Sports Betting Alliance Hosts Responsible Gambling Roundtable

The Sports Betting Alliance took another step this week in its fight to control problem gambling.

The lobby group hosted a roundtable in Virginia to discuss the issue's growth and ideas for curbing it. Representatives from bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel were all in attendance for the meetings, accounting for five of the state’s six online sportsbooks.

The SBA hopes the talks will help lawmakers, sportsbooks, and regulators find better ways to support responsible gambling and fight problem gambling. 

SBA Says Focus on RG is Crucial

The SBA’s focus during the roundtable was keeping lawmakers, regulators, and sportsbooks united in support of responsible gambling. It acknowledged that all parties must work closely if there is any chance to slow the growth of problem gambling in the US.

During the talks, SBA President Joe Maloney shared his belief that sportsbooks have more than just a moral obligation to help.

Responsible gaming is not a regulatory obligation to us; it’s the foundation of a sustainable, durable legal market. Getting this right takes more than one company working on its own.

Sportsbooks Are Monitoring Bettors

The five sportsbooks represented at the roundtable took time to tout the tools they currently have in place to help fight problem gambling.

Cameron Zuckert, FanDuel’s Senior Manager of Responsible Gaming Partnerships and Programs, spoke about the operator’s ability to monitor bettors and identify problem gambling red flags. He told attendees that FanDuel trains employees to recognize suspicious betting patterns to help struggling bettors stop and cool off.

While we know sportsbooks have this tool, questions remain about how it is being used. There have been allegations that the industry only uses this practice to stop winning bettors and limit the sportsbook’s losses. However, Zuckert’s words show the ability isn’t only reserved for stopping sharps and bettors on hot streaks. 

No Prediction Platforms Present

The roundtable in Virginia included representatives from the largest online sportsbooks, but prediction market operators were noticeably absent. It’s hardly a surprise given that the SBA only lobbies for online sportsbooks, but it felt like an opportunity was missed. 

The future of sports contracts remains murky, but there is no denying their growing popularity in the US. Operators have expanded into all 50 states, ensuring residents across the US have a legal way to bet on sports 

Prediction platforms were resistant to responsible gambling initiatives early on, but have warmed up to them as public pressure has built. Industry-leading Kalshi even went as far as joining the National Council on Problem Gambling. 

As high as tensions are between states, sportsbooks, and prediction markets, there is no denying the emerging industry’s popularity. By leaving prediction operators out, any solutions or protocols from roundtables like the one in Virginia will have a far more limited impact. 

Conversely, putting aside their legal battles to work together would increase funding, bring new ideas, and ensure all regulated sports betting platforms are united.