As the season prepares to tip off, the NBA wants to remind fans that betting on basketball at sportsbooks and trading on prediction markets involves risk and should be done for entertainment, not to generate income.
The NBA and WNBA, in collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling, are launching a responsible gaming initiative this fall that will run on social and linear platforms. The campaign emphasizes that no matter how much one knows about basketball, their money is at stake. Editor's Picks NFL asks SCOTUS to take up prediction market case David Purdum Wemby won't promote betting sites: 'I want to inspire in a good way' Michael C. Wright 'We are broken': Inside one family's fight against gambling addiction Elizabeth Merrill and David Purdum 2 Related
"As the ways people engage with sports continue to evolve, it is important that fans understand the risks associated with putting money on sports outcomes," Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA head of media distribution and partnerships, said in a release announcing the new campaign. "[We] want to help fans make informed decisions, understand the risk and, if they choose to bet, trade or anything similar, that they do so responsibly."
Colie Edison, the WNBA's chief growth officer, said helping fans make informed decisions is central to campaign.
"We can reach more fans with practical guidance on understanding financial risk, setting limits and recognizing when and where to find support," Edison said in the release.
The campaign points fans to responsible gaming education, resources to recognize problems and how to seek help, including references to gambling helplines.
"Awareness is an important first step in preventing gambling-related harm," Derek Longmeier, president of the NCPG board of directors, said in the release.