Bettor Safe, a new sports betting education campaign, launched this week with the goal of distinguishing legal and illegal markets.
Conscious Gaming rolled out the new campaign as a way to educate consumers about the risks of betting illegally and the benefits of a legal and regulated sports betting market. Along with the national initiative, two state-specific campaigns for New Jersey and Pennsylvania launched.
Between March Madness and the month being Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it was deemed an appropriate time to launch the campaign:
“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, vice president of corporate social responsibility and communications at Conscious Gaming. “Now more than ever we must educate consumers and equip them with the tools to make more informed decisions about online betting.”
A need for education
As legal sports betting spreads across the US, many Americans are still unaware of their state’s status. According to a study by the American Gaming Association, 35% of individuals don’t know if their state is legal.
In a survey, Conscious Gaming found 25% of New Jersey respondents weren’t sure if online betting was legal. In Pennsylvania, the figure was 30%.
“Educating Pennsylvanians about the security and safety advantages of legal online betting is critical,” Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O’Toole said.
