Some of the major sports leagues have joined the American Gaming Association along with the world’s most prominent mixed martial arts promotion.
The AGA’s public service campaign, titled “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly,” has gained a new ally with the UFC joining in, as officials announced.
According to the announcement, the UFC will allocate resources from its in-venue, digital, and broadcast assets as part of the partnership. These resources will be utilized to promote co-branded marketing materials that center around UFC themes, with the aim of promoting responsible sports betting.
About the American Gaming Association Campaign
In 2019, the “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” campaign was introduced by the AGA.
At present, sports betting has been legalized in 25 US states along with Washington, DC. Out of these, 21 states have already commenced operations. Consequently, enthusiasts of MMA, hailing from various states and diverse backgrounds, partake in this activity.
AGA President and CEO, Bill Miller, expressed gratitude at witnessing the expansion of this campaign, with the inclusion of prominent leagues like UFC. Miller emphasized the significance of UFC’s dedication in actively involving, enlightening, and motivating their fan base, including those who may be new to betting, to engage in responsible wagering.
The UFC, headquartered in Las Vegas, has recently joined the AGA campaign, along with NASCAR, the National Hockey League (NHL), and the PGA Tour. Monumental Sports and Entertainment, based in Washington DC, along with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and FanDuel, are also recognized as official partners of the campaign.
A sport built for sports betting
According to Dana White, the President of UFC, he commented on the AGA partnership by stating:
“Our sport boasts the most fervent and dedicated fans, who have a penchant for betting on UFC. However, we emphasize the significance of responsible gambling. It gives us immense pride to collaborate with the AGA and support their campaign that encourages our fans to exercise wise judgment and promote responsible gaming.”
White is dead serious when it comes to that passion. MMA enthusiasts have a tendency to be extremely devoted, and fans of the UFC, in particular, can exhibit an intense fervor for the combat sport.
Each Saturday night, the UFC typically hosts an exciting cagefighting event. These fight nights consist of 10-15 thrilling bouts and an uninterrupted live program lasting 6-8 hours. Numerous fans eagerly watch the entire card, enduring numerous commercials. Recently, a significant number of these advertisements revolve around legal Virginia sportsbooks, such as DraftKings. Earlier this year, DraftKings sealed a monumental $350 million agreement with the UFC.
MMA enthusiasts engage in betting. Dana White, a wealthy individual and self-professed “degenerate” gambler who once lost $1 million while placing a bet on a boxing match, also participates. UFC commentators openly bet and do not conceal their involvement. Additionally, fighters place bets on themselves as well as on their fellow fighters.
Given the close relationship between betting and MMA, it would be prudent for the UFC to actively promote responsible gambling.
Furthermore, the UFC has been actively pursuing credibility and influence for quite some time. In pursuing this objective, aligning itself with reputable leagues such as the NHL, NASCAR, and other sports organizations would be a wise move for a worthwhile AGA campaign.