Former point guard Stevin “Hedake” Smith shares personal gambling experience in first-of-its-kind education session in Puerto Rico
Click here for high-res photo/video of the responsible gambling presentation.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (July 1, 2025) – 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 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.”
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.
“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. The BetMGM Sportsbook app is accessible on both iOS and Android as well as via desktop at www.betmgm.com. Players in Puerto Rico can download the app and visit Casino del Mar to validate their registration.
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.
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About BetMGM
BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain’s U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. For more information, visit https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/.
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