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DraftKings Announces $1 Million+ Responsible Gaming Initiative Providing Multi-Year Financial Commitments to State Problem Gambling Councils

DraftKings Inc. today announced a multi-year financial commitment to assist the state councils across the country providing critical funding which will support the work of local nonprofit organizations. As part of the new initiative, entitled The State Council Funding Program, DraftKings has offered each state council $15,000 per year for three years, a total overall commitment of $1,575,000 over the span of the three-year program.
“Having spent several years of my career working with the state council in my home state, Massachusetts, I have seen first-hand how these organizations are a tremendous resource for individuals and families, and serve as a critical stakeholder and partner for gaming operators,” said Christine Thurmond, Director, Responsible Gaming. “DraftKings is committed to advancing responsible gaming in collaboration with state councils across the U.S. Our hope is that this funding will give councils that extra support needed to fund priority areas, expand services, or hire additional staff; whatever is most needed, we want to help financially.”
The State Council Funding Program may be used at the broad discretion of each council to bolster services and programs for individuals and families, and also for council staff, including applying the funds to trainings, conferences, helplines, and general capacity building. A state council may also use the funding to explore the potential for capacity building within neighboring states without a council presence. The program will begin a three-year trial in January 2022.
“State councils provide a first line of defense for addressing the needs of people impacted by problem gambling,” said Keith Whyte, Executive Director, National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), whose membership includes the 35 State Affiliate Councils. “While it’s well established that these organizations provide critical assistance in the community, they don’t always have the resources and funds to take treatment and prevention to the next level. This significant initiative by DraftKings shows their commitment to and knowledge of the importance of the work state councils provide.”
The State Council Funding Program announcement comes after an active year for responsible gaming initiatives at DraftKings. In 2021, DraftKings devoted significant financial resources and deployed its responsible gaming staff to spearhead several initiatives including:
- An agreement with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Division on Addiction, Harvard Medical School to pioneer a systems-based approach to employee training in responsible gaming.
- A commitment to the American Gaming Association’s public service campaign Have A Game Plan.ÂŽ Bet Responsiblyâ˘Â which teaches consumers best practices in engaging in sports betting, such as the importance of only betting with legal, regulated operators and setting personal limits on play as necessary.
- The expansion of responsible gaming education and marketing using a broad range of customer touchpoints including email, social media, DraftKings retail sportsbooks, and across in-stadium assets including via the Have A Game Plan.ÂŽ Bet Responsiblyâ˘Â campaign.
- Multiple financial commitments to support evidence-based research, including one to the International Center for Responsible Gaming for a three-year study assessing risk and prevalence of sports betting problem gaming, and one to the Kindbridge Research Institute, which is embarking on its 50×4 Vets project at the nexus of veterans and responsible gaming.
- A comprehensive in-house approach of offering the responsible gaming team as a key partner to teams across the company.
- Internal investments to strengthen its capacity to promote responsible gaming for all staff and in front of consumers.
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Caesars Sportsbook Accepts its First Sports Wagers in Oregon Through a Partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe

Caesars Entertainment Inc. accepted sports wagers in Oregon for the first time, made possible through a partnership with the Coquille Indian Tribe in Coos Bay. The ceremonial first bet was placed on Caesars Sportsbook self-service wagering kiosks inside the Coquille Indian Tribeâs premier gaming and hospitality destination, Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay, previously known as The Mill Casino, which now celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Caesars has enhanced Coquilleâs sports viewing experience at its premier destination with a large fleet of Caesars Sportsbook self-service betting kiosks, conveniently located on the casino floor. These kiosks feature a best-in-class wagering menu with a wide array of same game parlays, player props, futures and live in-play markets. Sports fans 21 and older can enjoy the gold standard of sports wagering, including unmatched full college sports offerings which are not otherwise available on a statewide mobile basis in Oregon, reflecting Caesarsâ and the Coquille Indian Tribeâs shared commitment to providing world-class experiences.
âWe remain committed to supporting Indian gaming, and weâre proud to partner with the Coquille Indian Tribe to enhance their guest experience. Bringing our sports wagering offering to a new jurisdiction for the first time is always significant, and we know offering our expansive menu of sports wagering markets will undoubtedly enhance the exceptional experience that the Coquille Indian Tribe provides to its guests,â said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.
âWe are proud to have this iconic gaming brand join us, as both brands have represented excellence in the industry for decades. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing gaming opportunities and enhancing guest satisfaction. We are excited to collaborate with such a distinguished brand and look forward to creating even more memorable sports wagering experiences for our guests,â said Margaret Simpson, CEO of the Coquille Economic Development Corporation.
Oregonâs newest in-person sports wagering destination at Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay provides a responsible environment for guests to wager on their favourite sporting events, supported by the longstanding commitment to Responsible Gaming that both Caesars and the Coquille Indian Tribe have upheld for decades.
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Light & Wonder Completes Acquisition of Grover Gamingâs Charitable Gaming Assets

Light & Wonder Inc. announced it has completed its previously disclosed acquisition of Grover Gamingâs charitable gaming assets for total consideration of $850 million cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and a four-year revenue-based earn-out of up to $200 million cash.
âGrover Gaming has established itself as a leader in the fast-growing charitable gaming space. Bringing their assets and expertise into our ecosystem aligns perfectly with our strategy to expand into complementary regulated markets. This addition enhances our position as the leading global cross-platform games company and opens new opportunities to deliver our world-class content to even more players. Weâre excited to welcome the Grover team to Light & Wonder,â said Matt Wilson, President and CEO of Light & Wonder.
âJoining Light & Wonder marks an exciting new chapter for the charitable gaming business. Weâre proud of what weâve built in the charitable gaming space, and we see tremendous opportunity to grow even further as part of Light & Wonder. Our teams share a passion for innovation and a commitment to serving customers and communities, and weâre excited to take that to the next level together,â said Brian Brown, CEO of Grover Gaming (Light & Wonderâs new division).
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Pavilion Payments Names Alyssa Beaver Senior Vice President of Sales

Pavilion Payments, the leader in omnichannel payment solutions for the gaming industry, has announced the appointment of Alyssa Beaver as Senior Vice President of Sales. In this role, Alyssa will lead Pavilion Paymentsâ brick-and-mortar sales organisation, working closely with the leadership team to drive growth and foster long-term relationships with new and existing customers. She will also be key in enhancing the companyâs market footprint by cultivating strong, collaborative partnerships across product, operations, and service teams.
âWe are thrilled to welcome Alyssa to the Pavilion Payments team. Alyssa has a proven track record in sales leadership, and her deep understanding of both the gaming and fintech industries will be invaluable as we continue our growth. Her customer-centric approach, strategic mindset, and collaborative leadership style will help us continue to innovate and deliver outstanding solutions to our customers,â said Dan Connors, CEO of Pavilion Payments.
âIâm excited to join Pavilion Payments at such a pivotal time of innovation and growth. I look forward to working with our incredible team to help our partners grow, enhance the player experience, and deliver meaningful value to the industry,â said Alyssa Beaver, Senior Vice President of Sales at Pavilion Payments.
Alyssaâs extensive experience in sales and marketing comes from her recent leadership role at Passport Technology, where she led the sales and marketing teams and was instrumental in driving significant revenue and organizational growth. During this time, she played a critical role in landing several major enterprise accounts and expanding the companyâs market presence.
Before her work at Passport, Alyssa held senior sales positions at Apriva and gained experience at Paycom, where she built a strong foundation in fintech and SaaS solutions across diverse sectors such as education, healthcare, and military.
Her ability to build relationships, close large deals, and scale sales teams has set her apart as a sales leader. Alyssa is passionate about fostering partnerships and collaborating across teams to create customer-first solutions that drive business success. She is a graduate of Arizona State University.
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