Amid a never-ending wave of sports betting commercials that dog every NFL broadcast, the league is launching a new public service announcement on responsible gambling beginning Thursday night. In between constant ads for DraftKings, FanDuel and other apps, Steve Mariucci will step on screen and remind fans not to go overboard.
Per ESPN’s David Purdum:
The in-game PSAs are part of the NFL’s overarching initiative to build a safer sports betting ecosystem in the U.S. In October, the league announced a $6.2 million, three-year partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling. It’s the largest grant ever for the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that was founded in 1972. The partnership includes operation of ResponsiblePlay.org, a website the NFL encourages bettors to visit to learn about responsible betting and problem gambling.
“Getting the tone where you’ll get people’s attention, so it’s not just lost in the flow of TV ads, but also having a clear, supportive tone was important,” NFL chief strategy and growth officer Chris Halpin told Purdum.
The PSAs will initially pop up just once during game broadcasts. However, they could potentially become more frequent as time goes on, with newer PSAs rolling in ahead of the postseason.
