“Responsible gaming can’t be a focus only in March and September”

What sparked the idea behind creating the GuardDog Fund, and how do you think it’s going to change the future of responsible gaming?

Underdog is an innovator in the fantasy space and we want our GuardDog innovation fund to help create the Underdogs of Responsible Gaming.

The industry is changing rapidly in the U.S. There are lessons and best practices from other parts of the world that are valuable inputs for U.S. operators building up their RG programs. However, we as an industry are still not doing enough. We aim to help change that with GuardDog and to lead by example in seeking out solutions. And those solutions will be able to help the entire industry.

Responsible gaming can’t be a focus only in March and September. It has to be a serious commitment that we all rally behind and invest in. This is meaningful and we will stick with it. That’s why we created GuardDog, a fund that’s going to be thinking about responsible gaming every day, with the clear intent to create resources and solutions to both educate and help current and future players.

How is the GuardDog Fund helping to bring new ideas to responsible gaming, and what kinds of startups or projects are you most excited to support?

Underdog launched GuardDog with $1 million in initial funding to be used to support and accelerate early-stage startups focused on building new and creative solutions to address problem gaming and further responsible gaming. In addition to financial backing, the funded start-ups will have access to advisors and investors from within the gaming community. This includes former regulators, RG experts, and experienced mentors and funders.

Charter GuardDog mentors include Brianne Doura-Schawohl, Chris Grove, Dan Hartman, Sara Tait, and me. We’re thrilled that GuardDog portfolio companies will have the chance to tap into the incredible depth and breadth of experience and expertise our mentors bring to accelerate their businesses.

Underdog sees RG not as a challenge, but an incredible opportunity. It necessitates fresh, creative ideas from the best and the brightest. The work of our funded companies will create a stronger and more responsible ecosystem for both operators and players.

We are proud of GuardDog’s mission and look forward to watching it contribute to this dynamic industry we are all building together. Its reach will extend far beyond Underdog. To me, that is the most exciting aspect.

Why did you choose the Game Safety Institute as a partner in your responsible gaming efforts? What made them the right fit for Underdog?

Our clear aim with GuardDog is to support and help scale innovation in responsible gaming, and the Game Safety Institute is precisely the type of partner we look for – imaginative, with a commitment to rigorous testing and research to develop real, actionable solutions to enhance player safety across a wide range of products.

With fantasy sports and sports betting changing so fast, how does Underdog make sure its responsible gaming tools can keep up?

Responsible Gaming (RG) has always been built into the foundation of our platform. At Underdog, we pride ourselves on leading by example and do everything in our power to foster a safe, healthy, and sustainable playing environment. Our RG mission focuses on educating on problem gaming, engaging in prevention efforts, and advertising and marketing Underdog responsibly.

We’re continually enhancing our systems and processes to make sure we’re building the best-in-class product and then innovating on top of that. And we have some exciting things we’re working on to make our RG platform even better. We’re also thrilled to see what GuardDog companies come up with that we can integrate into our ecosystem.

We work to be very clear with our players about what safe gaming looks like and what problem gaming looks like. Some of the things we tell our players include:

• Establish a budget for your play – and stick to it. Only play with money you can afford to lose.
• Never chase your losses. Ever. Chasing is attempting to quickly win your losses back. It can be an early sign of problem gaming.
• Become familiar with – and use – our RG tools. Setting limits protects your play and helps prevent spending beyond your budget or chasing losses.
• Never borrow money to play. Asking friends or family to provide money to continue playing not only can impact your personal relationships, but it can also be a sign of problem gaming.
• Gaming should be entertaining. Always. Responsible gaming is about playing for fun and entertainment, not a way to make money.
• If gaming is no longer fun, don’t hesitate to ask for help. NCPG has a list of resources available in each state to help you understand your options. Never hesitate to reach out for assistance and information if you or a loved one are in a problematic situation.

We’re proud of our RG work. Still, we know that we can always do more. As an industry, we are not collectively doing enough. It’s on all of us to ensure that all gaming is responsible, and our players are as protected as possible.

What are the biggest challenges the industry faces when it comes to responsible gaming on digital platforms, and how is Underdog working to overcome them?

The entire industry needs to be on board. This means regulators, lawmakers, other operators, and gaming experts. We need them to come to the table with their buy-in, guidance, and commitment. And we can’t wait for their buy-in and feedback so we can all continue to improve.