The National Football League (NFL) announced a partnership with the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to address growing concerns around gambling behaviors among college athletes and students. The NFL Foundation will contribute $600,000 over three years to support independent, peer-reviewed research being led by the ICRG that aims to explore the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of gambling behaviors in these populations.

While initial studies have indicated that college athletes may be at higher risk for gambling problems, there remains a lack of comprehensive, current data on how college populations interact with online sports betting platforms. This NFL-ICRG initiative will empower independent researchers to explore a wide range of topics with the goal of informing data-driven prevention strategies, education, and policies aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. Grant applications will be peer-reviewed prior to the selection of the final recipient by the ICRG Independent Scientific Advisory Board.

Additionally, the NFL will fund an update to the ICRG’s “Talking with Children About Gambling” educational resources to equip parents, coaches, and educators with practical guidance to help prevent youth gambling exposure before college. Educational materials will be widely available online and distributed to schools, community sports organizations, and youth programs nationwide.

“We’re proud to partner with the ICRG to advance research that can drive meaningful solutions and address a critical gap in the understanding of gambling behaviors among college athletes and students. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting responsible gambling and fostering a safe and supportive environment for athletes, fans, and communities,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility.

“The NFL has once again demonstrated its commitment to player and fan protection by supporting this critical research targeting young adults. The NFL and ICRG together will make a meaningful contribution to understanding and implementing policies and programs that support a safer gambling environment,” said Arthur Paikowsky, president of ICRG.

Aristocrat Interactive, under NeoGames US LLP, signed a six-year contract with the Michigan Lottery to provide its full solution of iLottery product offerings, reaffirming its leadership in the U.S. iLottery industry. Under the contract, from July 2026, Aristocrat Interactive will provide services to the Michigan Lottery for six years, with six additional one-year extension opportunities. The relationship with the Michigan Lottery began in 2014 with the launch of its iLottery program using NeoGames’ iLottery platform and games.

This new deal will provide the Michigan Lottery with eInstant games, draw-based games, and add-on offerings produced by Aristocrat Interactive’s NeoGames Studio, along with continuing to leverage the company’s iLottery technology, which includes:

• NeoSphere player account management platform

• NeoDraw draw games system

• NeoCube Business Intelligence solutions; and

• NeoEngage – Aristocrat Interactive’s overall customer and data experience solution.

Aristocrat Interactive will also provide the Michigan Lottery with a new website and mobile application services with Gambyt – a software company specializing in the lottery, casino, and sports betting industries. Under the deal, Aristocrat Interactive will lead the Michigan Lottery’s CRM marketing efforts, including promotions and customer communications, and will deliver managed services including staffing, a customer service center, payments management, third-party integration, compliance, and responsible gameplay solutions.

“This collaboration is a sign of our commitment to being a leader in the iLottery space and a win for players and public education in Michigan as we look to further enhance our offerings, deliver an entertaining iLottery experience, and drive incremental revenue to the School Aid Fund. Aristocrat Interactive has a proven track record of providing the industry’s leading technology, comprehensive player services, and engaging content for lotteries around the world. We’re confident this new deal will help us continue to be a leading innovator in this exciting digital space,” said Suzanna Shkreli, Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery.

“The Michigan Lottery is a trailblazer in the U.S. iLottery industry, and we’re proud to be a strategic partner for their business. This multi-year agreement is a testament to the proven strength of the Aristocrat Interactive platform, our commitment to innovation, and the long-term value we provide to our customers,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director of Aristocrat Interactive iLottery.

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WA. Technology, the global iGaming solutions provider, has launched its Pick’Em player props product globally, centred on countries across Asia-Pacific, Africa and LatAm, with a particular focus on Brazil.

The newly released tool is designed to put the player at the centre of the wagering experience to bridge the gap between fans and sports.

With increased demand from casual fans for player-focused betting experiences, Pick’Em combines sports betting with fantasy gaming, focusing fully on individual player performance.

Offering between two and six markets across a variety of sports, the numerous benefits for operators include higher margins gained through users combining multiple players from different sports. With the differential from traditional sports betting, operators have the chance to gain an edge over competitors by using the tool.

There is also the opportunity for increased marketing through the creation of engaging and memorable campaigns related to Pick’Em.

Bettors can access a wealth of sports and betting markets, such as goals and assists in football, and then predict whether each player will be over or under their selected line in the specified market.

There are two ways users can opt to play – ‘Power Play’, where every selection must win, or ‘Flex Play’, where it will be settled as a winner even if one selection loses. Users can win up to 25 times their stake with accurate choices.

Users can even combine player picks from multiple sports in a single entry, which creates a unique cross-sport experience that brings them closer to their favourite stars.

As fan behavior shifts toward tracking individual players and athletes over teams, Pick’Em offers an intuitive and rewarding way for users to engage with the sports they love.

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Pick’Em also addresses the key challenge in the sports betting world of the learning curve for new users and the lack of personalised, player-focused options. Unlike traditional betting formats that rely on team outcomes and complex odds, Pick’Em delivers a streamlined experience where fans simply predict whether individual players will go over or under specific stat lines.

The simplicity of Pick’Em means there are no confusing odds, instead, there are clear player predictions, which keeps it interesting, fun, and rewarding for both casual fans and more experienced bettors compared with traditional sports betting.

By combining a simple user interface with the excitement of predicting player outcomes, Pick’Em creates a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience that keeps users coming back for more.

Commenting on the launch, Will Booth, Product Owner at WA. Technology said: “With the global sports and fantasy sports industry projected to reach $230 billion by 2030. Rapid mobile adoption across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa is driving demand for simple, engaging, and player-focused betting tools like Pick’Em.

“Generations of adults have been brought up playing more fantasy-led sports games, and WA. Technology’s newest launch makes sports betting appear more relatable without the overwhelming feeling that newer gamblers often get.

“Pick’Em makes sports more exciting and personal for bettors, and opens up the opportunity for casual fans to feel more involved. Demand shows that fans today care more about player performance than ever before. Pick’Em taps directly into that passion, turning it into an easy, thrilling game that anyone can play.”