The youth responsible gambling program Change the Game Ohio has partnered with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to educate students about the harms of sports betting.
This partnership is far from unexpected, considering Ohio gaming regulators have often been among the most attentive in the nation. And these regulators are not just prioritizing high school athletics. They’ve also made recent efforts to help college student-athletes negatively impacted by sports betting.
Responsible gambling projects like these are especially important to Ohio regulators due to the Ohio sports betting market’s rapid growth.
Change the Game Ohio partners with Ohio High School Athletic Association
This new responsible gambling program aimed at Ohio high school athletics is an extension of Change the Game Ohio, a youth gambling prevention initiative established by several Ohio gaming regulatory committees including:
- Ohio Lottery Commission
- Ohio Casino Control Commission
- Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services
Now, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has joined forces to offer enhanced support and education to Ohio’s youth.
Change the Game Ohio to provide education & resources at OHSAA events
The goal of this new partnership is to provide education and responsible gambling resources to high school students and highlight warning signs and issues with youth gambling. Resources will also now be available for parents and coaches at OHSAA events.
Ohio High School Athletic Association Executive Director Doug Ute spoke to the importance of getting responsible gambling messaging in front of high school kids to counteract any gambling exposure they have already had.
“Today’s youth are likely exposed through everyday activities like video games, fantasy sports and card games. There are real consequences for youth who engage in betting. They are more likely to neglect their studies, increase their risk for substance abuse and delinquency, and end up with emotional stress and depression. This partnership initiative will allow informed decisions with youth and how to address these risks.”
The Ohio Lottery Director Michelle Gillcrist is excited about this partnership, calling it the next step toward ensuring that Ohio youth have a safe environment in which to grow up.
“As part of Ohio for Responsible Gambling, we recognize the critical importance of addressing gambling behaviors early in life. Our partnership with the OHSAA through the Change the Game Ohio initiative aims to equip parents, educators and students with the tools they need to identify and prevent problem gambling before it takes root. Together, we can foster a safer environment for Ohio’s youth.”
High school students aren’t the only ones Ohio sports betting regulators and Ohio responsible gambling advocates are prioritizing. There has been a recent push to help provide resources to college students and student-athletes as well.
Ohio regulators are also trying to help college students deal with negative repercussions of sports betting
There have been quite a few problems with college athletics and sports betting. Some states, including Ohio, have banned prop bets on college sports to try and better protect student-athletes from harassment. While that ban has seemingly been helpful, more needs to be done.
That is why Ohio for Responsible Gambling recently unveiled its More Than A Bet campaign which is a marketing scheme designed to spread awareness.
Dayton Flyers men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant contextualized this issue on Jan. 17 after a game when he outlined the harassment his players deal and pleased with fans to reevaluate their choices.
“They have families. They don’t deserve that. Mental health is real. So if you’re a Flyer fan, I ask you just to understand what you’re dealing with, with young people. Alright? Take a step back and reevaluate your priorities. And if you can’t, we don’t need you.”
That is why this project has been launched. According to Ohio Casino Control Commission Chairman Tom Strickrath, this harassment is unacceptable. Thus, new ways to support student-athletes must be found. That is where the genesis of ‘More Than a Bet’ began.
“These young athletes are more than a bet. The mental toll of online harassment is unacceptable. By learning about the issue and supporting student-athletes, we can change the narrative.”
Ohio sports betting shows no signs of slowing down after a 46% year over year increase to total handle in July
Responsible gambling programs like ‘More Than a Bet’ and the latest Change the Game Ohio partnership with OHSAA are extremely important because Ohio sports betting is only becoming more popular.
The July Ohio sports betting report shows $466.6 million in wagers — a 46% increase year over year. And it was not just total bets that increased either. Ohio sportsbooks took home $53.5 million in total revenue —a 34% improvement compared to July 2023.
At this point, many industry members consider Ohio a top five sports betting market despite going live under two years ago and it is only going to continue to grow. A new Optimove study on NFL betting frequency found that there could be a 14% increase to NFL betting this season compared to last. That could have a large impact on Ohio sports betting in the coming months.
The only way to limit the negative repercussions of the growing Ohio sports betting market is to innovate and expand Ohio responsible gambling resources. It seems regulators in the Buckeye State recognize that fact and are doing their best to keep up.
