The American Gaming Association (AGA) recently convened leading gaming industry organizations, academic professionals and advocacy groups to chart a new course on the complex issue of responsible gaming. The Responsible Gaming Collaborative will identify the programs and policies that best address responsible gaming and the prevention of problem gambling, and hold government accountable for supporting proven, effective solutions. The Collaborative’s launch deepens the gaming industry’s commitment to responsible gaming.
The gaming industry is estimated to provide governments with hundreds of millions of dollars annually for responsible gaming research and treatment. The spending of those resources is inconsistent across jurisdictions and no programs exist today to ensure accountability.
In addition to the AGA, key Responsible Gaming Collaborative participants include:
The National Council on Problem Gambling, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas International Gaming Institute, Harvard University’s T.H. Chan Public School of Health, Yale School of Medicine, the National Indian Gaming Association, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
The word ‘Collaborative’ was chosen deliberately. Our goal is to work with regulators, policymakers, experts, advocates and other stakeholders to find the best solutions and direct resources to them.
In the coming months, the Collaborative will:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of current responsible gaming policies and regulations;
- Identify programs that work and those that fail to meet their objective;
- Study regulations to determine which are based on solid evidence;
- Determine whether government resources are being properly targeted toward effective programs and prevention;
- Develop a set of recommendations and industry best practices; and
- Work with regulators and other stakeholders to understand the best approaches.
The gaming industry is now dedicated to aligning stakeholders and driving a new approach to responsible gaming. Below please find a sampling of earned media coverage around the launch of the Collaborative. We will continue to keep you apprised of the latest developments.
To learn more about the inaugural meeting of the Collaborative, click here. Please contact Elizabeth Cronan, AGA’s senior director of gaming policy, for more information on AGA’s responsible gaming efforts.
