Online Gambling Operators to Face More Scrutiny

• Bet365


• Bally’s


• BetMGM


• DraftKings


• FanDuel


• Hard Rock Digital


• Fanatics Betting and Gaming


• Penn Entertainment (operator of ESPN Bet and theScore Bet)
  

This group collectively represents bout 90% of the total online gambling market across the country. Operations in Ontario, Canada, will fall under the same scrutiny. Why Canada.

The RGC has been monitoring online gambling activities in Canada since 1983. They have been charged with making sure online gambling is safe for the end-users. They have also been actively working to prevent problem gambling issues.

As for working with ROGA in the U.S., RGC CEO Sarah McCarthy stated:

“We are proud to work with ROGA in setting a new benchmark for responsible gambling in the online space. The certification program will build on years of evidence-based work and experience developing RG Check as a trusted standard. By working together, we are creating a more transparent, accountable, and player-focused industry.”

The RG Check accreditation process will serve as the template for the U.S. responsible gambling certification process, which requires operator evaluations and license renewals every 3 years.

Prior Collaboration Between the ROGA and RGC

This is not the first time that the ROGA and RGC have worked together on a material issue involving the U.S. online gambling industry. They more recently partnered with Epic Global Solutions and Kindbridge Behavioral Health regarding a campaign titled: “Know Your Player." This campaign targets college students and addresses growing concerns regarding problem gambling issues on U.S. campuses.

In addition to the new responsible gambling certification process, ROGA has entered into a partnership with BetBlocker. BetBlocker is a company that provides a software product that allows online gamblers to voluntarily block themselves from having access to their favorite online gambling sites.

Under the agreement between these two parties, ROGA will prominently market the BetBlocker tool on its website and across its national channels. They will also be working with member operators to make sure that end-users will have easy access to the BetBlocker tool. The hope is that this will help online gamblers better manage their online gambling behavior.

Clearly, ROGA is taking a big step forward to help protect vulnerable U.S. online gamblers. With the market continuing to grow each year, the timing of this move could not have been any better.