BetMGM ambassador Carlos Arroyo, Casino del Mar and EPIC bring responsible gambling training to Puerto Rican athletes
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, and Casino del Mar, Puerto Rico’s premier entertainment and sports betting destination, have joined forces with BetMGM brand ambassador Carlos Arroyo and EPIC Global Solutions to bring responsible gambling training to professional athletes in Puerto Rico for the first time since sports betting was legalized on the island in 2019.
Athletes and sports organizations from across Puerto Rico gathered with operators and gaming commissioners at La Concha Resort on June 30 to hear a presentation from former college basketball star Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith on the impacts of gambling safety and sustainability. Smith was at the center of one of the most high-profile examples of gambling-related harm in basketball history and now serves as U.S. sports advisor for EPIC Global Solutions, where he educates professional and collegiate athletes on how to avoid repeating a similar scenario.
“When I joined BetMGM as an ambassador, it was incredibly important to me that we worked together to spread the message of responsible gambling,” said Arroyo. “By partnering with Hedake and EPIC Global Solutions to share lived experiences of problem gambling and sports betting integrity, we’re educating and empowering athletes across the island.”
Reflecting on his contribution to the event, EPIC’s Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith added: “This is one of the best crowds I’ve spoken to. I’m very appreciative of the quality of questions that they asked. I want to thank Carlos Arroyo for endorsing me and to BetMGM for giving me the opportunity to share my lived experience. It’s my duty to deliver a powerful message – that way I can educate them to help my situation not happen again.”
Loraine Irizarry Torres of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and Sigfrido de Jesús, general manager of Casino del Mar, addressed the audience, which included players from the Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) and the Brujas de Guayama of the Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña Femenina (LBPF) along with presidents of various Puerto Rican sports federations.
Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith addresses the Casino Del Mar audience
“At Casino del Mar, we are committed to creating a safe and responsible environment for all who engage with sports betting,” said de Jesús. “Partnering with BetMGM and Carlos Arroyo to deliver this training is part of our broader mission to ensure that Puerto Rico’s athletes are informed, protected and empowered.”
BetMGM currently operates in 29 markets with mobile and retail offerings. As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gaming remains a key focus.
Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM’s mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM’s already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
For more information on BetMGM, follow @BetMGM on X, and for details of EPIC’s globally available experience-powered education services, explore our website.
BetMGM brand ambassador Carlos Arroyo, EPIC SVP North America Teresa Fiore, BetMGM’s Director of Responsible Gambling Richard Taylor and EPIC US Sports Advisor Stevin ‘Hedake’ Smith at the landmark Puerto Rico event.
