The executive team of William Hill US has confirmed that the gambling giant’s local unit has made a $50,000 donation to the Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) to fund a campaign which is set to support problem gamblers.
The CCGNJ has been seeking to expand its capacities related to problem gambling awareness and treatment, especially at a time when it introduces its first sports betting parlours. The initiative is now related to the production of an educational video about gambling addiction and its harmful effect on affected gamblers and their families. According to data provided by the council, the video will be promoted through TV, radio, online advertising, as well as in movie theatres, and will be distributed online and via social media.
After the end of its Nobody Harmed by Gambling campaign in 2018, William Hill UK has pushed the initiative to its US division. Now, Joe Asher, the Chief Executive Officer of William Hill US, confirmed that the money contribution made to the CCGNJ is the start of the relationship between the gambling giant and the responsible gambling agency in New Jersey.
At the time when he presented the deal, Mr Asher explained that the money used for the donation was derived from the settlement proceeds after the agreement inked between the US division of the gambling operator and its local rival FanDuel.
William Hill Expands in the US to Offset Impact of Stricter Regulation in the UK
The partnership between William Hill US and the state’s Council of Compulsive Gambling comes as an important step in the gambling company’s strategy for US expansion. The British gambling operator has turned eyes to the newly-opened US sports betting in order to enhance its presence in the global gambling sector after facing tougher regulatory conditions on its domestic market.
The company is not the only British gambling company which has been trying to expand its reach worldwide, and in the US in particular, as stricter regulation and tougher compliance rules have been imposed by the UK Government and gambling regulators in order for better protection to be ensured to British players.
It followed suit after GVC Holdings joined similar initiative aimed at tackling problem gambling and has been gradually working to build a reputation as an operator engaged with responsible gambling. Considering the fact that gambling and sports betting regulation is not very well balanced in some US states, any step taken by gambling operators to protect consumers from gambling-related harm will probably be gladly welcomed by state officials.
The collaboration between William Hill and CCGNJ will not only help it make its online products better but also bolster its presence and credibility on the territory of the US. On the other hand, the donation and future engagement of William Hill US will help the Council raise the awareness of the issues associated with problem gambling and the harm it inflicts on players’ lives.
- Author
Olivia Cole
