Responsible Gambling Council collaborates with NFL for training program
A pilot will run involving eight universities and colleges across Canada.
Key Points
- Program looks to give student-athletes the knowledge they need to make informed decisions surrounding gambling
- 30 university and colleges will take part in the program by the 2025-26 school year
The Responsible Gaming Council (RGC) has partnered with the NFL to set up a training program for university and college student-athletes.
Overall, the program looks to give student-athletes in Canada full understanding of gambling, to make informed decisions regarding it.
This includes the risks involved, recognizing their susceptibility to risky gambling behaviour, the signs of gambling-related harm and its impact, and knowing the resources available for those experiencing gambling-related harms.
The course will be made specifically for the student-athlete audience that it is being delivered to, while RGC will ensure trainers have all the resources needed to deliver the course to as intended.
Eight universities and colleges across Canada will take part in the pilot phase of this program during this year’s spring semester, before it is then rolled out to 30 university and colleges in the 2025-26 school year, with the aim of evaluating results as much as possible to ensure its effectiveness.
This follows recent efforts by the NFL to prevent problem gambling, having extended its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in August last year, aimed at strengthening problem gambling prevention services and to promote responsible gambling initiatives, with a $6.4m commitment.
The league’s original commitment for this came in October 2021 when it awarded a grant worth $6.2m, which at the time was the largest in the NCPG’s history.
Responsible Gambling Council CEO Sarah McCarthy said, “Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics, and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviors.
Good to know: Sarah McCarthy began her role as CEO of the RGC on January 6 2025
“Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student-athletes build capacities to succeed both on and off the field.”
NFL SVP of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson added, “We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative.
“Our shared goal is to equip these student-athletes with the tools and knowledge to navigate gambling risks, fostering a safer and more responsible environment.
“We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gambling efforts to benefit all those who play and engage with our game as fans.”
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