MLB & AGA Partner Up For Safer Gambling

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has a new partner as of today. THe AGA has announced a new partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) through the AGA’s new public service campaign, Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.

Through this campaign, the AGA hopes to expand the league’s responsible gaming efforts as well as educating baseball fans. On top of this, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCGP) partnered with the MLB to have the league serve as a Platinum Member and to be a part of the Leadership Circle for the group. 

MLB Executive Vice President of Business Development, Kenny Gersh, said that Major League Baseball is committed to making sure that their fans who choose to place a bet will also have the resources and tools necessary to make a wager responsibly.

He emphasized that this will be crucial as wagering legally continues to expand throughout the country. He believes that the additional resources and expertise from the NCPG and AGA will help the MLB to be able to broaden their responsible gaming efforts further.

This will be done with awareness and support service programs as well as pushing new education efforts that will make Baseball betting and sports betting in general safe, entertaining, and fun for everyone that wants to partake. 

MLB, as new partners with “Have A Game Plan”, will advertise responsible sport and baseball betting public service announcements for a number of MLB broadcasts as well as digital media channels. These advertisements will begin airing during the MLB 2022 Postseason. The MLB will also start expanding this advertising campaign partnership to all 30 of the teams in Major League Baseball.

The AGA will also be providing the League with expertise and counsel to expand the responsible gaming knowledge league-wide by providing yearly training on best practices as well benchmarking. 

Casey Clark, the AGA Senior Vice President, said that being able to bring on MLB as a partner through the Have A Game Plan was a milestone for the campaign. It also has taken responsible gaming efforts to a new level across the country.

He goes on to say that the MLB is well aware that as the legalization of sports betting continues to expand, so does the company’s commitment collectively to responsibility. Through this partnership, there will be a largely impactful followthrough with the education of fans throughout the country, teaching them about the fundamentals of wagering responsibly. 

Back in 2005, the MLB was the first professional sports league that joined and become a member of NCGP. Since then, MLB has become a Platinum Member and has expanded and reached the level of the Leadership Circle in the organization.

Keith Whyte, the Executive Director of NCPG, and his team have been working very closely with the MLB with numerous campaigns with the topic in mind of problem gambling. There is also the initiative to put the NCPG’s National Problem Gambling Helpline promotion in most, if not all, of the league’s media outlets.

Whyte goes on to say that NCGP is thrilled with how committed the MLB is to dealing with gambling problems and is excited for the future with their expanded efforts on both ends to educate fans and families about responsible gambling. If one knows that their gambling has become a problem, it is crucial to know the resources to help.

The wide reach of the MLB will have a large impact on the awareness of the National Problem Gambling Helpline and additional resources provided by NCGP. The timing of the announcement couldn’t have been better, as this month is Responsible Gaming Education Month.