Several of the biggest betting firms in the United States have partnered to form the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA). This regulatory body is committed to tackling issues related to ‘problem gambling’ in the United States, which is rapidly becoming the most valuable betting market on Earth. There are intentions for ROGA to promote awareness of the issues associated with gambling while remaining transparent and sharing collected data to give everyone a picture of ‘what’s going on’.
At the heart of the initiative sits five ‘core principles’ or ‘objectives’ that are centred around the promotion of a responsible gambling ecosystem. Following the foundation of ROGA, the collective of betting partners has committed ‘a minimum’ of $20 million towards the operating costs of the organisation. It has been estimated that around 2.5 million Americans suffer from ‘severe’ gambling problems, and ROGA wants to take steps towards combating these issues.
An Admirable Goal
As a collective, ROGA represents more than 85% of the legal online sports betting market in the United States. The body is made up of the biggest operators in the country, including:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Hard Rock
- Penn Entertainment
In a statement, the executive director of ROGA, Dr. Jennifer Shatley, said:
‘By coming together with a clear set of objectives, ROGA and our members will work to enhance consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy the entertainment of online gaming.’
The five core principles of ROGA will; see the company fund research on the effectiveness of ‘anti-gambling’ tools, promote best practices for responsible gaming, raise awareness about irresponsible gambling, and establish an independent data house and a certification program. Soon, smaller betting providers and operators will be leaning on ROGA to secure ‘responsible gambling certification’ that’ll act as a mark of positivity against the firm.
It’s a huge ask but an admirable goal. As more states open their doors to legalised betting practices, the market is stretching further across the country, impacting many more millions of bettors.
