Wondr Nation Introduces Program to Push Forward Studies on Ethical Gambling Practices
In a push toward responsible and sustainable gaming, Wondr Nation, a gaming entertainment brand under the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's wing, has launched a fund to support this mission. They've dubbed it the Wondr Nation Responsible and Sustainable Gaming Fund.
UConn School of Medicine Secures Sizeable Grant
The University of Connecticut School of Medicine stands to gain substantially from this endeavor, landing a $250,000 grant over two years. This funding will bolster research into responsible gaming practices that encourage non-problematic play. Led by Carla Rash, a distinguished associate professor of medicine at UConn, this research journey will investigate the influence of rapid gaming industry transformations on the local community.
According to Anika Howard, Wondr Nation's president and CEO, "We're dead serious about responsible play and are thrilled to collaborate with UConn researchers to enhance player safety, fund vital research, and invest in our communities. At Wondr Nation, our aspirations transcend mere entertainment, as we're on a mission to pioneer a fresh era of responsible gaming."
The funds will aid faculty and graduate students at UConn, funding essential research into discovering effective, preventative, and responsible gaming programs. This research will cover an extensive range of topics, including self-gambling strategies, innovative responsible gaming products, and comparative analyses of traditional gaming methods versus contemporary online options, potentially paving the way for groundbreaking treatments.
Wondr Nation Partners with CCPG, Commits $300,000 to Responsible Gaming Efforts
Wondr Nation's dedication to responsible gaming extends beyond announcements, as demonstrated by their recent coalition with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG). They've pledged a yearly donation of $300,000 for the upcoming five years to boost the CCPG's educational, preventive, and awareness programs, all geared toward reducing problem gambling.
The Wondr Nation responsible gaming drive surfaces at a time when the gambling industry grapples with a challenge: despite dedicated efforts from operators and celebrities like the Manning family to promote responsible gambling, making these tools engaging remains a struggle, according to Cait DeBaun, the American Gaming Association's VP for strategic communications.
Initiatives like GameSense, enabling players to set limits, have surfaced, but shifting the narrative from prevention to enhancement is critical, DeBaun stressed. Normalizing responsible gambling, similar to choosing a drink at an event, is key, she emphasized.
While specific results from Wondr Nation's initiatives remain elusive, their involvement in responsible gaming initiatives syncs with industry-wide attempts to foster safer gaming practices. [1] [3] In line with these efforts, similar organizations in the gaming industry, such as the NFL and ICRG, are actively engaged in responsible gambling research and education, underlining the significance of comprehensive data and preventative strategies in addressing gambling risks. [4]
The Wondr Nation Responsible and Sustainable Gaming Fund, established by the gaming entertainment brand, will collaborate with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine to research effective, preventative, and responsible gaming practices. In addition, Wondr Nation has partnered with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, committing to donate $300,000 annually for five years to support their educational, preventive, and awareness programs aimed at reducing problem gambling.
