Sportradar has announced the launch of Athlete Wellbeing, a global entity for sporting leagues, federations, teams and governing bodies. It aims to support athletes and ease the strain placed on their mental health by the demanding nature of pro sports.
Sportradar has partnered with industry leaders in the areas of athlete mental health and sports betting addiction, such as Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a mental health treatment provider that focuses on gaming disorders. Kindbridge is one of the first teletherapy companies to concentrate in this field and has a network of providers across the US.
Also among the Athlete Wellbeing league is Brianne Doura-Schawohl, a recognized expert in harm prevention and responsible gambling and Dr. Timothy Fong, the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program.
Additionally, Sportradar recently renewed its membership in the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). The NCPG has agreed to advise on the development of the Athlete Wellbeing program.
NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte commented: “We applaud Sportradar for its Athlete Wellbeing program, and we strongly support these efforts. As legalized sports betting expands across the country, it is more important than ever to ensure gambling addiction prevention and education programs are in place for every league, sport, club, team and school.”
Sportradar understands its role in the greater sports betting ecosystem, recognizing it has a crucial role to play in promoting responsible gambling. Sportradar Head of Integrity Jim Brown will take on a new role as Head of Athlete Wellbeing. He says: “As the global leader in providing integrity services, the launch of this program is a natural step in continuing to protect the integrity of sport for all.
“We believe that Sportradar has an important role in helping our partners educate their athletes about the potential impact of sports betting and problem gambling on their mental health.”
