The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), which represents 90% of the current sports betting handle in the United States, and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) have announced a new partnership that seeks to introduce a Responsible Gambling Certification in the country.
ROGA and RGC to develop a new certification program assessing operator RG commitment
The goal of the initiative is rather simple, too – establish a data-driven and evidence-based certification model that can distinguish operators that are committed to maintaining a safe gambling environment by actively contributing to player well-being.
The program also seeks to offer guidance in key areas such as self-exclusion initiatives, marketing, staff training, and player support tools, all of which will be reviewed independently to establish if an operator meets the necessary standard of RG and player safety.
ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley has welcomed the opportunity to see this new initiative formed, and said:
"A sustainable online gaming industry must be built on evidence-based best practices, and this partnership with RGC will advance this mission by building a trusted and independent assessment to certify robust responsible gaming standards."
The RGC has already celebrated as a leader in player protection, championing both prevention and responsible gambling solutions across the world for the past 40 years, and the council is deeply involved in the responsible gambling strategies of both iGaming and land-based businesses.
It is this expertise precisely that is going to help spearhead ROGA’s own certification program, meant to elevate standards across the industry. RGC CEO Sarah McCarthy was similarly pleased with the opportunity to collaborate with ROGA on such a pivotal initiative.
"The new certification program will build on years of evidence-based work and experience building RG Check as a trusted standard. By working together, we are creating a more transparent, accountable, and player-focused industry," McCarthy explained.
RGC and ROGA continue strong collaboration on RG initiatives
This is not the first time the two organizations have come to work together, with efforts spearheaded in various similar areas.
The two organizations conducted joint research that sought to better understand how players can be better engaged with responsible gambling tools, as well as worked on Know Your Play, a public awareness initiative meant to raise awareness about responsible play.
The new program that ROGA and RGC will be developing will also immediately seek to certify all of ROGA’s members, putting them under a microscope and determining if they meet the criteria that the program is seeking to champion.
