NFL Funds Research on Problem Gambling Among College Students & Athletes

The National Football League announced a partnership with the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to support research that focuses on gambling patterns and behaviors among college athletes and students.

Researching the Problem

The collaboration between the NFL Foundation and the International Center for Responsible Gaming will research gambling patterns and risk behaviors among college students and the athletes who represent their respective schools. There are concerns that these groups may be in jeopardy, but there has not been enough exploratory research to ground those fears in fact.

The NFL Foundation has pledged $600,000 over three years to support independent, peer-reviewed research being led by the ICRG that will be on a fact-finding mission to determine how college populations interact with mobile sportsbooks. It will also cover a wide range of topics, chief among them being educational tools to combat or reduce gambling-related harm.

“We’re proud to partner with the ICRG to advance research that can drive meaningful solutions and address a critical gap in the understanding of gambling behaviors among college athletes and students,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting responsible gambling and fostering a safe and supportive environment for athletes, fans, and communities.”

Arthur Paikowsky, president of the ICRG, stated, “The NFL has once again demonstrated its commitment to player and fan protection by supporting this critical research targeting young adults. The NFL and ICRG together will make a meaningful contribution to understanding and implementing policies and programs that support a safer gambling environment.”

NFL Bolstering Its Commitment to Responsible Gambling

The thought of the NFL sponsoring research to explore the possible deleterious effects of sports gambling is both noble and ironic. Since the NFL was established, commissioners have railed against the evils of sports betting, almost implying it was morally corrupt to do so but implicitly stating that it could impeach the integrity of the league.

In 2017, Roger Goodell said, “I think we still strongly oppose legalized sports gambling. The integrity of our game is No. 1. We will not compromise on that.”

Fast forward almost four years to the day, and Goodell had a dramatic change of heart after learning PASPA had been overturned, paving the way for states to decide on their own if they wanted to legalize sports betting. “We’re going to find ways we can engage fans through legalized sports betting,” said Goodell in March 2021.

This is approximately the same time that the NFL and its franchises began making money off their partnerships with mobile sportsbooks. However, to its credit, the NFL immediately contributed $6.2 million, covering a three-year partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

The executive director of the NCPG, Keith Whyte, said at the time that the money would allow him to double the budget for the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that was founded in 1972.

“The problem gambling field is about 20 years behind where we are with substance abuse, and this grant is going to help us catch up,” Whyte said. “It’s massive. It’s going to really help us help more people.”

Through the years, the NFL has maintained its commitment and currently has existing initiatives with organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). The league, under Goodell’s helmsmanship, has strived to maintain responsible gambling behavior while providing resources for those who need help.