How the PGA Tour and GambleAware Continue to Promote Safer Gambling

Gambling is one of the biggest pastimes across the globe - whether its online casino gameplay, sports betting or lottery.  

With the rise of the online gambling industry so is the concern regarding the problems surrounding gambling.  

In recent years, online gambling, in particular, has been the focal point with the focus adjusting to increasing awareness and promoting safer gambling among players.  

Both GambleAware and the PGA Tour have recently released new ways on how to promote Safer Gambling.  

 PGA Tour and AGA Form Alliance 

With sports betting recently becoming legal in various US states, there has been rising concern about what it could mean in terms of responsible gambling.  

In an effort to curb problem gambling, the PGA Tour has joined the American Gaming Association (AGA) as the newest ‘Have a Game Plan – Bet Responsibly’ public service campaign partner.  

They will dedicate efforts to educating golf fans on responsible sports betting, and ensure players are equipped with the proper resources to do so.  

The current campaign is a collaboration with the AGA encourages fans to ‘Know When to Lay Up’ and bet responsibly. All the co-branded responsible gaming content will appear across the various social and digital platforms along with public service announcements to be aired on PGA Tour Radio.  

Scott Warfield, VP of Gaming at the PGA Tour, said aligning with the American Gaming Association in support of its ‘Have a Game Plan’ campaign allows them to create consistency regarding the focus on responsible gaming. Warfield also stated that one of the key pillars of the current PGA Tour strategy is Responsible Gaming, providing the right resources along with proper education.  

It’s one of the many industry-leading partnerships the PGA Tour has formed since sports betting has been legalised.  

 A Different Approach to Deposit Limits 

There is nothing quite as frustrating for an online gambler than being restricted to certain limits set by the authorities.  

While regulatory bodies are setting limits with safer gambling in mind, it only creates frustration and often leads to players seeking unsafe gaming options with no limits.  

A recent study by GambleAware found that a different approach in ‘setting’ limits could have a bigger impact.  

By removing industry-set deposit limits, online gamblers were more likely to implement their own limits. Reducing the amount, they can spend by up to 46%.  

Supporting research from the Behavioural Insights Team funded by the national charity was used for the purpose of the exercise. The trial involved 1,700 online gambling customers and was attempting to analyse whether behavioural tweaks on sign-up would impact customer playing habits. The research team also wanted to extract effective information on reducing player risks.  

In broad terms, the study looked at ways current deposit limits influence gambling behaviour.  

The paper presented 3 different deposit options for players to choose from:  

• A normal version with the current settings available 
• A dropdown menu with low-value deposit suggestions and a max limit 
• A blank text box where customers can choose their own deposit limit 

The research revealed that the absence of high deposit limits almost halved the average of daily deposit limits players set. 

With free reign to choose their own bet amounts, players opted for deposit limits that were 46% lower. Concluding that deposit limits should not be set, instead that players should be free to make their own decision in the minimum or maximum limits they wish to have.  

According to GambleAware’s findings, it could increase the efficiency of deposit limit tools while simultaneously removing the constraints it currently provides to players. These findings have also been shared with the UKGC.