Problem Gambling Foes Warn on Sports Betting College Deals

The National Council on Problem Gambling on Tuesday issued a set of recommendations for such deals that aim to reduce the danger of students developing a gambling problem.

They include not compensating the schools based on the number of people the colleges refer to sign up for sports betting.

And they call on schools to provide problem gambling education, and for sports betting companies to fund those efforts.

Sports betting companies including PointsBet and William Hill have reached affiliation deals with colleges including the University of Colorado, and the University of Nevada’s Las Vegas and Reno campuses.

Keith Whyte, the council’s executive director, said in a statement that the guidelines “can help limit the number of young adults who could develop signs of gambling addiction as a result of sports betting, which is expanding rapidly across America.”

“We hope gambling operators, institutions of higher learning and state officials each feel a sense of urgency in adopting these responsible gambling policies and problem gambling treatment measures, whether sports betting is legal or might be in the near future,” he said.

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