Entain : Extends Safe Play Partnerships into Interactive Entertainment

29 July 2021

Entain Extends Safe Play Partnerships into Interactive Entertainment

Entain, the leading global sports betting and gaming entertainment operator, is extending the scope of its work with external partners to provide education and support across additional areas of interactive entertainment, to further strengthen player protection for customers. Through its not-for-profit Entain Foundation, the Group plans to build on work initiated with partners in the U.S., to help video-gaming and e-sports players in the UK and Europe at potential risk of harm.

Working with a number of important partners in the area of player protection, the Foundation will extend its work to help educate and support people enjoying a wide range of interactive entertainment in the UK and Europe. First initiatives will include:

• The launch of 'Mind Your Game' in the UK with Game Quitters, a support community for victims of gaming disorder. The Mind Your Game initiative was developed with additional support from Kindbridge, a teletherapy company focused on the treatment of gamblers and gamers suffering mental health issues. The Entain Foundation is sponsoring a social media educational initiative to raise awareness of potential addiction.

• Providing education and support for people at risk of online addiction and gaming disorder in videogaming and interactive entertainment with EPIC Risk Management, an international consultancy specializing in the prevention of gambling harm and he Counter-Strike Professional Players Association, which represents professional players across e-sports. The Association has a global focus and works closely with EPIC.

'Mind Your Game' provides players and their families with facts about the mental health challenges faced by gamers, including specific issues to be aware of; tips and strategies to reduce potential harm; and, advice on how to find support. A series of educational videos is available on YouTube: Skin Gambling, Esports Betting, Spot the Problemand Seek Help.

Grainne Hurst, Director of Safer Gaming and Regulation at Entain said: 'Our business is all about understanding and meeting the needs of customers, which means offering the most entertaining experiences whilst doing everything we can to protect them. At the core of our approach to sustainability is our belief that delivering the highest possible levels of player safety and protection is the best way to guarantee our long-term success.'

Last year Entain launched a Sustainability Charter, with four cornerstones including leading on responsible gaming and investing in people and communities. To achieve this, Entain promised to invest £100 million in the Foundation by 2025 to include educational and support projects.

Entain is advised by Dr Mark Griffiths as Distinguished Professor of Behavioral Addiction and Psychology, who holds the same position at the University of Nottingham. Dr Griffiths has studied addictive behaviors for over 30 years and was part of a team whose work prompted the World Health Organisation to recognize Gaming Disorder as a mental health condition for the first time in June 2018.

Dr Griffiths, together with academics from Harvard Medical Faculty School of Addiction, are working with Entain on a five-year research project to improve understanding of addictive behaviours. In addition they form part of a panel of world-leading academics advising Entain on its pioneering, proactive technological approach to personalized player protection called ARC (Advanced Responsibility and Care).

Media Contacts

Tessa Curtis, Head of Group PR and Media Relations [e-mail]

Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press [e-mail]

Notes to Editors:

The Entain Foundation Entain launched its Global Foundation in September 2019 to coordinate and support the Group's CSR initiatives, objectives and donations around the world. More information here: Entain Foundation - Entain (entaingroup.com)

Game Quitters is the leading support community for people struggling with gaming disorder. It works with parents, gamers, teachers, and professionals to provide specialist information and resources. www.gamequitters.com

CSPPA Counter-Strike Professional Players' Association (CSPPA), is the worldwide representative association for professional Counter-Strike (CS:GO) players. The CSPPA aims to safeguard, protect, and promote professional Counter-Strike players' interests both during and after their active career. https://www.csppa.gg

EPIC Risk Management is a globally leading independent gambling harm minimization consultancy. Working across the highest risk sectors for gambling-related harm, EPIC has worked in 21 countries on ground-breaking harm-minimization programs, sector leading gambling operator training, and class-leading advisory. EPIC draws on lived experience to help individuals and organizations across financial services, elite sport, the military, criminal justice, education, and the gambling industry to minimize the risks posed by gambling harm. For more information on EPIC Risk Management visit https://www.epicriskmanagement.com/

About Entain plc
Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Bet.pt, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis.

The Group has also entered into a joint venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports betting and gaming opportunity in the US, through BetMGM. Entain provides the technology which powers BetMGM and exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house games studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licences in a total of 27 regulated markets. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI and is AA rated by MSCI. The Group has set science-based targets, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects.

For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com