Campaign Launched To Educate Public On Legal vs Illegal Sports Betting

A recent study by the American Gaming Association found that 35% of people do not know whether sports betting is legal in their state or not. Conscious Gaming, a non profit gambling industry group, hopes to change that.

Media Campaign

They have launched a widespread media campaign to educate potential bettors on how to gamble safely online. The ads will feature on TV, radio and on the internet with the aim of directing people to the Bettor Safe website.

The campaign directs potential users to the Bettor Safe website

The site features a listing of the states that are legal for sports betting and online gambling. It also highlights the dangers of illegal sites as well as providing a guide to help users identify safe regulated sites vs their illegal counterparts.

March

It is a timely launch with March Madness just around the corner. In addition, March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Campaign organizers hope they can steer sports fans clear of common issues.

“This campaign comes at a pivotal moment when American sports fans are gearing up for the NCAA basketball tournament amid a pandemic that continues to push individuals online,” said Seth Palansky, a vice president with the group and a former online gambling executive with Caesars Entertainment. “Now more than ever we must educate consumers and equip them with the tools to make more informed decisions about online betting.”

“Now more than ever we must educate consumers and equip them with the tools to make more informed decisions about online betting.”

Seth Palansky, Vice President Conscious Gaming

Dangers of Non-Regulated Sites

Another recent survey demonstrated that 75% of the public couldn’t tell the difference between legal and illegal gambling sites. This is a particular worry as there are multiple dangers associated with the illegal operators.

Non-regulated sites offer no protection from identity theft. There is no assurance of gaming integrity and they do not guarantee the security of customer’s funds. The same concerns do not exist on legal sites as state gaming authorities regulate the industry so closely.