US Sportsbooks Join ROGA Certification for Responsible Gaming

The largest names in US sports betting are about to face an independent check on how they handle responsible gaming. Eight operators, together representing around 90% of the legal market, will take part in a new certification program led by the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) in partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).

Good to Know

• Operators involved include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, bet365, Bally’s, Hard Rock Digital, and Fanatics.
• Certification will measure standards in self-exclusion, staff training, player support, and marketing practices.
• RGC’s established RG Check model in Canada serves as the blueprint for this new US program.

The initiative was announced September 2 at ROGA’s headquarters in McLean, Virginia. The certification introduces a data-driven framework aimed at identifying responsible gaming practices that go beyond what state or provincial regulators currently require.

Each operator will be evaluated in areas including player protection tools, support services, internal training, and marketing safeguards. Those who meet the standard will be certified for three years, after which a full reassessment is required.

ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley said the program reflects the industry’s growing commitment to accountability:

“A sustainable online gaming industry must be built on evidence-based best practices, and this partnership with RGC will advance this mission by building a trusted and independent assessment to certify robust responsible gaming standards.”

For RGC, the project builds on more than four decades of global work in player protection and research. The Toronto-based group developed the RG Check accreditation that is widely used by land-based casinos and online platforms in Canada and beyond. CEO Sarah McCarthy called the US program a chance to raise the bar:

“By working together, we are creating a more transparent, accountable, and player-focused industry.”

This certification effort follows other steps by ROGA to push responsible gaming forward. Earlier this year, the association released VIP program guidelines urging operators to monitor high-value customers more closely, introduce behavioral checks, and avoid promoting offers to players taking time off. ROGA also works with EPIC Global Solutions and Kindbridge Behavioral Health on the “Know Your Play” campaign, which provides US college students with resources around gaming responsibility, financial literacy, and mental health.

The framework is set to be finalized in the coming months. Once complete, all ROGA members will be assessed under the program, signaling a new phase in how responsible gambling is measured across the US market.