DraftKings, Inc., on Monday said it has made a financial commitment to the International Center for Responsible Gaming’s (ICRG) Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering.
According to the ICRG, the Fund focuses on responsible gaming in sports betting, with the goal of developing peer-reviewed, scientifically based research that contributes meaningfully to the understanding and application of responsible gaming in the industry.
Among the topics studied are differences in sports wagering compared to other forms of gaming; the evaluation of efficacy of existing responsible gaming interventions and programs; and the differences in prevalence and experience of problem gambling across demographics.
The Center said as a result of DraftKings’ contribution, the ICRG is able to proceed with a competitive request for applications from researchers around the world who are interested in pursuing research on problem gambling.
Researchers from top-tier academic institutions will compete for funding to discover new insights concerning public health and sports betting, with applications opening this summer and concluding in September.
Grant applications will be peer-reviewed prior to the ICRG independent Scientific Advisory Board selecting the final recipient.The selected recipient will be announced in September and will receive funds for a three-year project ending in 2024, with the potential for the research to be published earlier in the three-year period. The research fund is open to US-based or international public, private or non-profit organizations.
“We are incredibly honored to have DraftKings’ financial support, which was instrumental in satisfying our funding needs for the Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering,” Dr. Russell Sanna, ICRG executive director, said in a statement. “With the expansion of sports betting across the United States, public health research will be critical in better understanding problem gaming, and we are deeply appreciative of the support from DraftKings to fund research that is cutting-edge and can be utilized across the industry and by consumers.”
Jason Robins, DraftKings’ co-founder, CEO and chairman of the board of directors, said the operator meets its responsible gaming mission through technology, training, resources for employees and consumers, and by supporting evidence-based research. Practices include limit setting, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion from offerings.
DraftKings is a Platinum Member of the National Council on Problem Gambling and a member of the American Gaming Association, Robins noted.
“The cornerstone of our commitment to customers is providing an enjoyable sports betting and gaming experience, and we recognize that we have a responsibility to ensure that customers are playing safely,” Robins added. “We are pleased to support the critical mission of the International Center for Responsible Gaming and fund important research that will drive responsible gaming innovation and customer safety forward for the entire industry.”
