Underdog Expands Player Protection Through Birches Health Partnership
United States.- 24 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Underdog has announced a partnership with Birches Health aimed at expanding responsible-play tools and support available to users who may require specialist assistance.
The initiative will integrate additional educational material and direct pathways to clinical care within Underdog’s Responsible Play Hub.
New Player-Protection Partnership
The collaboration is designed to strengthen measures already available across the platform.
Its objective is to bring information, preventive tools and professional support into a more connected customer experience.
Birches Health
Birches Health specialises in treatment for gambling disorder and other compulsive behaviours.
Its services include:
- Clinical care.
- Education.
- Assessments.
- Referral pathways.
- Specialist treatment.
- Digital resources.
Direct Access to Clinicians
One of the main components of the partnership is a direct pathway to specialist clinicians.
The service is intended to provide confidential support for players who believe they may need additional help.
Gambling-Specific Treatment
Birches provides programmes specifically designed around gambling-related harm.
Its model uses trained professionals and treatment pathways focused on the particular needs of affected individuals.
Integration Within Underdog
Birches Health resources will be integrated into Underdog’s Responsible Play Hub.
This is intended to shorten the process between recognising a potential issue and finding relevant information or treatment.
Responsible-Play Education
The partnership will also provide educational resources covering areas such as:
- Recognising warning signs.
- Understanding risky behaviour.
- Using preventive tools.
- Knowing when to seek help.
- Accessing specialist treatment.
Existing Protection Tools
Underdog already offers several responsible-play controls.
These include:
- Deposit limits.
- Spending limits.
- Cooling-off periods.
- Self-exclusion.
Deposit Limits
Users can set restrictions on how much money they add to the platform.
The tool is intended to support greater control over financial activity.
Spending Limits
Underdog also allows users to establish spending restrictions.
This can help players set boundaries before engaging with products.
Cooling-Off Periods
Temporary breaks are available through cooling-off tools.
Users can choose to pause activity for a defined period before returning.
Self-Exclusion
The platform also provides self-exclusion options.
These allow users to block their own access for longer periods where a more complete break is considered appropriate.
Frank Vaccaro
Underdog Senior Manager of Responsible Gaming Operations Frank Vaccaro said the partnership represents a meaningful development in the company’s approach to player wellbeing and protection.
He highlighted the ability to provide a direct connection to specialist, confidential care.
Elliott Rapaport
Birches Health Founder and CEO Elliott Rapaport emphasised the importance of combining specialist education with simple treatment pathways.
Birches believes reducing barriers to care is essential to effective player protection.
Insurance-Covered Care
Birches offers insurance-covered treatment in eligible circumstances.
This can reduce financial barriers for individuals seeking specialist gambling-related healthcare.
Virtual Care
A significant portion of Birches’ services is delivered remotely.
Virtual treatment enables wider geographic access to specialist professionals.
Previous Relationship
Underdog and Birches Health have previously worked together on player-protection initiatives.
In 2025, both organisations collaborated with Sportradar on an initiative involving Bettor Sense.
Early Risk Detection
Bettor Sense uses technology to identify potential warning signs within player behaviour.
Its purpose is to enable earlier interventions where risk indicators emerge.
From Detection to Treatment
The latest partnership expands that model.
Rather than focusing solely on identifying risk, Underdog is also creating a more direct route towards professional clinical support.
GuardDog
Underdog has also developed responsible-gaming initiatives through its GuardDog fund.
The programme has backed projects focused on player protection and financial wellbeing.
Regen
One initiative associated with that ecosystem is Regen, a platform designed to encourage automated savings among betting users.
Birches Health also works with Regen on education and access to specialist treatment.
Protection Ecosystem
Together, these tools create a model covering:
- Prevention.
- Limits.
- Early identification.
- Cooling-off.
- Self-exclusion.
- Education.
- Professional care.
Prediction Markets and Fantasy Sports
Underdog operates across several sports-entertainment categories.
Its business includes fantasy sports and products linked to prediction markets.
A broader product portfolio also increases the importance of maintaining consistent protection standards.
Growing Sports Markets
The expansion of betting, fantasy sports and event contracts in the United States has increased attention on responsible play.
Operators are increasingly embedding safeguards directly into digital products.
Protection as Part of Product Design
Responsible gambling is increasingly moving beyond a standalone compliance section.
Companies are integrating limits, alerts and educational tools directly into the user journey.
Clinical Partnerships
Another developing trend is closer cooperation with specialist healthcare providers.
This allows operators to connect customers with independent professional support rather than relying solely on internal tools.
Industry Context
Partnerships between sports-gaming companies and specialist healthcare organisations are becoming more common across the US market.
The model combines technology, prevention and treatment access to provide a more comprehensive response to gambling-related risk.
Next Steps and Impact
Underdog will integrate Birches Health resources into its Responsible Play Hub and expand the support available to customers seeking information or assistance.
The partnership is designed to create a more direct progression from prevention and risk identification towards professional treatment.
Through the initiative, Underdog is strengthening an approach in which player protection, control tools and specialist healthcare operate as connected parts of the user experience.
Editó: @fonta
