Youth Focused Curriculum Regarding Risks Associated With Online Sports Betting

Background
The Office of the Attorney General (AGO) of Massachusetts is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to develop a comprehensive educational pilot curriculum aimed at informing youth aged 12-20 about the risks associated with online sports betting. This initiative, known as the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, was introduced by Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in March 2024. The Coalition includes key stakeholders such as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and various professional sports teams, focusing on educating middle and high school-aged youth about online sports betting risks, including its impact on mental health and financial literacy.

The pilot program is set to launch in the 2024-2025 school year in three pre-selected communities.

Work Details
The selected vendor will be responsible for:
1. Developing a pilot curriculum that includes:
- A comprehensive overview of online sports betting and online fantasy sports.
- Discussion of associated risks, particularly for young people, including psychological and neurological effects.
- Content addressing mental health impacts, focusing on addiction and compulsive behaviors.
- Education on financial responsibility and potential consequences of online betting.
- Tools for identifying misleading advertising tactics related to online sports betting.

2. Deployment of training sessions:
- Collaborate with AGO staff to develop a rollout plan for 3-5 communities during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Coordinate communication with selected communities and stakeholders to ensure participation.
- Identify qualified trainers experienced in youth engagement.

3. Evaluation of the curriculum:
- Analyze data to gauge comprehension and retention levels among participants.
- Design methods to evaluate both short-term and long-term impacts on students' attitudes towards gambling risks.
- Provide actionable recommendations for enhancing the curriculum based on evaluation findings.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, specifically targeting three to five training sessions within this timeframe.

Place of Performance
The curriculum will be piloted in three pre-selected communities within Massachusetts.