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AGA Celebrates 25 Years of Responsible Gaming Education
By Jeff Osienya Sep 07, 2023 IndustryFor the month of September, AGA will be commemorating its unwavering mission for promoting safer gambling in the United States for a quarter of a decade. And Americans are acknowledging the impact of responsible gambling education in a new survey.The American Gaming Association (AGA) got the ball rolling on its 25th annual Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) from 5th September, marked by a significant milestone in the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming. AGA initiated RGEM 2023 by releasing new consumer survey data conducted by YouGov on behalf of the AGA, shedding light on the state of legal sports betting and responsible gaming awareness among Americans.
Responsible gambling has always come up in discussions, especially those entailing the legalization of certain forms of gambling, with all parties arguing passionately in defense of their respective stances. Given the theme of the month, it therefore makes sense that it would be the main topic that came up during the launch of RGEM. According to the survey, responsible gaming is a well-recognized subject among US citizens, as a majority are aware of responsible gambling tools.
One-Week Online Survey on Responsible Gaming
During the one-week study conducted between 3 and 10 August 2023, 2,018 Americans aged 21 and above were interviewed. It was found that with the continued expansion of legalized betting across the country, more consumers are getting acquainted with responsible gaming. AGA reported:
Quote“As legal gaming expands in the US, consumers continue to report high levels of responsible gaming engagement, according to survey data from the American Gaming Association. More than eight in 10 (84) of past-year gamblers aware of at least one responsible gaming resource, including 91 percent of sports bettors.”
According to the AGA, the survey pointed to about 53% of sports betting players being exposed to some form of responsible gaming message over the past year. This also revealed higher confidence levels in information regarding responsible gaming amongst players in the same demographic. At least 75% of the respondents felt that enough measures had effectively persuaded players to embrace responsible play. These include industry code of conduct (75%), wager limits (77%), employee training (77%), time limits (78%), and deposit limits (85%).
When releasing the results of the survey, AGA Strategic Communications and Responsibility Vice President Cait DeBaun lauded the efforts made by industry players in promoting responsible gaming, saying:
Quote“Our industry’s success is based on earning customer trust, providing safeguards for responsible gaming, and implementing tools that our customers engage to bet responsibly. Today’s data shows our united effort to elevate responsible gaming is clearly resonating with players and shaping a safer gaming landscape.”
How Advertising Drives Responsible Gaming
In advertising, emphasis has always been put on not aggravating the situation by exposing viewers to content that will motivate them to make questionable gaming decisions. The survey showed that advertising accordingly has proven to encourage player engagement by raising awareness about responsible gaming.
Other stakeholders have already come out to show support for the month. They include PGA, MGM Resorts, and BetMGM. Taking the survey findings into account, MGM Resorts and BetMGM have launched campaigns of their own, committing to featuring responsible gaming at nine NFL stadiums during the season.
The state of New Jersey has also come out to bring on board a campaign to sensitize players on responsible gaming practices. Part of the campaign aims to teach players how to prevent the risks associated with betting at unlicensed and illegal venues.
Four Weeks, Each With a Theme
This is the second time that responsible Gaming Education will be a month-long venture rather than the usual week-long venture. To make it easier to achieve more during the month, each week features a theme that will be addressed for the week, namely:
- Week 1: Empowering Customers to Play Responsibly
- Week 2: Legal, Regulated Gaming Protects Players
- Week 3: Building a Responsible Gaming Culture Within
- Week 4: Advancing Responsible Gaming with Research
DeBaun further remarked:
Quote“It was originally intended to focus on employee training and drive awareness around responsible gaming and awareness around problem gambling, and it’s evolved over the years to be much bigger than that. It’s not just about training, but also an opportunity for the industry to highlight their commitments to RG to talk with their customers more about it.”
The Responsible Gaming Month comes just in time for the start of the NFL season, where billions are slated to be spent on gambling ventures. AGA has devised a campaign (Have A Game Plan.®Bet Responsibly.™) where several stakeholders, including leagues, teams, gaming operators, and others, will support initiatives to promote responsible gaming. DeBaun also noted:
Quote“This month provides a focused opportunity for the gaming community to come together to highlight and advance our efforts,” “We look forward to joining with our members, regulators, leagues, media, and all stakeholders to uphold our collective responsibility for responsibility.”
The American Gaming Association has always shown unwavering dedication to fostering a safer and more informed gaming environment. One of the most consistent ways to mark progress in the sector has been through the annual commemoration of the RGEM, where milestones on the various variables in the gambling world have been highlighted. 2023 is no different; as the data shows, the dynamic industry is continuously improving as the years go by.
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