FanDuel, Former NBA Player Randy Livingston Announce Responsible Gaming Partnership

FanDuel has announced a new responsible gaming partnership with former NBA player and coach Randy Livingston and his wife, sports agent Anita Smith, to mark the start of responsible gaming education month. The new program will serve as a resource hub for gamblers.

FanDuel, Randy Livingston, and Anita Smith will launch “Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting”

FanDuel, Livingston, and Smith will launch “Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting,” a new program and resource hub to provide parents, guardians, and coaches with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, betting risks, and how to recognize warning signs of gambling addiction.

In the “Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting” video series, Livingston and Smith detail Livingston’s addiction to gambling and his eventual recovery. He went on to play several years in the NBA while also struggling with problem gambling.

“As legal sports betting continues to become more accessible, I knew I wanted to use my experience to help families engage in proactive and informed conversations about gambling,” said Livingston.

“It became apparent to me and Anita that FanDuel shares our goal of helping parents navigate these tough, but important conversations.”

Video content will be shared across the sportsbook’s social channels

“It is important to normalize conversations about gambling. This program is intended to help families get comfortable with traditionally uncomfortable conversations,” added Smith.

“Randy and I are delighted to work with FanDuel to amplify the program’s content and drive positive outcomes for young people and anyone who may be struggling with problem gambling.”

Video content from the program will be supported with paid media on digital. The content will also be shared across FanDuel social channels, and it will be featured on fanduel.com/playwell.

“Randy’s experience of problem gambling, coupled with Anita’s first-hand account of what it is like to live alongside someone in that situation, makes for a powerful message and ensures that people sit up and listen,” explained Teresa Fiore, VP of Partnerships at EPIC Global Solutions.

“We are proud to have played our part in bringing this program to life and commend FanDuel for being proactive around encouraging families to be open in their discussions around engagement with gambling.”

Livingston played 11 seasons in the NBA

Randy Livingston, 49, was selected 42nd overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1996 NBA draft out of LSU. As a 6-foot-4, 219-pound point guard, he appeared in 203 games (19 starts) across 11 seasons.

He averaged 3.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 13.2 minutes per game while shooting 40.6% from the field. Plus, the New Orleans native shot 35.1% from 3-point range and 77.1% at the free throw line.

According to the Basketball-Reference database, Livingston holds the record for the most assists in an NBA D-League game (22). He also has the NBA record for fewest games played (203) across 11 or more seasons.

Furthermore, Livingston then went on to coach for his alma mater, Isidore Newman School. Newman won a Louisiana state title in both 2022 and 2023. However, an investigation was launched afterwards.

In 2023, following a recruitment violation, Livingston was suspended by the LHSAA from coaching for a calendar year. Newman was stripped of its state championships in 2022 and 2023.

In response, Livingston filed a lawsuit against the LHSAA. On Jan. 18, 2024, at an injunction hearing, Judge Monique Barial issued a preliminary injunction. She ruled in Livingston’s favor and allowed him to coach.