ROGA Launches Nationwide Program to Educate College Students on Safe Gaming

Virginia-based Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) is starting a nationwide effort to teach college students about safe gaming habits and money management. 

ROGA Teams Up with Industry Leaders to Address Gambling Risks
The project, which will kick off at the start of 2025, is a team effort with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). They want to tackle the increasing need to inform and educate young adults given how easy it is to access sports betting and online gaming across the US.

ROGA set up by top online gaming companies, aims to encourage responsible gaming habits and stop gambling problems. The educational program will focus on college students, a group that has not received much attention when it comes to responsible gaming resources. While some work has been done to reach out to student-athletes, this effort will cover the wider university community providing key information and help.

One of the main parts of the program focuses on teaching money skills, which Dr. Jennifer Shatley, who runs ROGA, thinks are crucial for young adults to learn. Shatley pointed out that when students go to college, they often handle their own money for the first time. This means it is important to teach them how to manage their cash well. The program will teach students about making budgets putting money aside, and understanding why going into debt can be risky. This way, students can make smart choices about money, whether they gamble or not.

ROGA Campaign to Destigmatize Problem Gambling Through Personal Stories
Furthermore, the campaign aims to humanize and remove the stigma of problem gambling by including real stories from people who have faced its downsides. This personal touch aims to make the program more relatable to students and spark open talks about gambling habits. By teaching ideas like odds, probability, and randomness, the program will help students grasp the risks tied to gambling and avoid unrealistic hopes.

EPIC Global Solutions, a partner of ROGA, has already provided educational programs to NCAA student-athletes and looks forward to reaching all college students. The program will employ digital tools to boost access making it available to any college-age student, whether they attend a university or not.

Beyond the main content, the project will also tackle common myths about gaming, like the false sense of control in sports betting. By clarifying these ideas in a fun and easy-to-understand way, ROGA and its partners aim to help students gain a better grasp of responsible gaming.