BetMGM and Casino del Mar launch responsible gambling training for Puerto Rican athletes
Online operator BetMGM has partnered with brand ambassador Carlos Arroyo and Casino del Mar in San Juan to deliver Puerto Rico’s first responsible gambling training program for professional athletes since sports betting was legalized in the region in 2019.
The session, held at La Concha Resort on 30 June, featured a presentation by Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith, a former college basketball star who was sentenced to a year in prison in 1997 for accepting bribes to fix four basketball games.
Hedake now works with EPIC Global Solutions, educating athletes on how to avoid gambling-related harm and maintain betting integrity.
Arroyo, who is also a former NBA and Puerto Rican national team point guard, said, “When I joined BetMGM as an ambassador, it was incredibly important to me that we worked together to spread the message of responsible gambling. By partnering with Hedake and EPIC Global Solutions to share lived experiences of problem gambling and sports betting integrity, we’re educating and empowering athletes across the island.”
Attendees of the event also included players from the Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional and the Brujas de Guayama of the Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña Femenina, as well as officials from Puerto Rican sports federations and the island’s Gaming Commission.
Casino del Mar’s general manager, Sigfrido de Jesús, explained that he is committed to fostering a responsible gambling environment. He added that the athletes are informed and protected as sports betting grows in Puerto Rico.
Dig deeper
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
Verticals:
Sectors:
Topics:
