The American Gaming Association launched a responsible gaming effort Thursday aimed directly at sports gamblers with messages inside arenas in states where the activity has been legalized.
The public service campaign is designed to educate fans and consumers about responsible betting practices as the number of legal sports betting states continues to increase.
The “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaign is live in both Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Roughly 100 million Americans will be able to legally wager on sports in their state by the end of this year,” AGA CEO Bill Miller said in a statement. “It’s more important than ever that the gaming industry, and our new partners in the sports betting ecosystem, are proactive in equipping patrons with the tools they need to engage in these offerings in a responsible manner.”
Sports betting is currently legal in 14 states with another six states and Washington D.C. expected to launch the activity this year. Some 21 states have active sports betting legislation that is currently being considered. The Washington D.C.-based trade organization believes sports betting could be legal in half of the U.S. states by the end of the year.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018, Americans have legally wagered more than $19 billion on sports nationwide, generating $175 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.
Last year, the AGA and its members announced a plan for self-regulating sports advertising.
The campaign announced by the AGA Thursday focuses on four responsible sports betting principles: setting and sticking to a budget; keeping it social by playing with friends, family, and colleagues; understanding the details of the games; and wagering with licensed and regulated sports betting
“By encouraging consumers to have a game plan when they wager, the industry is making good on its commitment to instill responsibility as a key tenant of every new legal sports betting market,” Miller said.
Dasher board signage promoting responsible gaming at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas/Courtesy photo via AGA
Monumental Sports & Entertainment owns the Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Wizards. The company placed banners with AGA’s responsible gaming message along the concourse in the arena.
“When it comes to legal sports betting, nothing can be more important than responsibility,” said Monumental Sports Chief Commercial Officer Jim Van Stone.
Sportsbook operator William Hill U.S. has a deal in place with Monumental Sports to build and operate a sportsbook in the arena.
#exclusive – Responsible gaming: AGA announces program targeting sports bettors with in-arena messages. –@howardstutz, CDC Gaming. https://t.co/SxAdupUWbK @AmericanGaming #CDCgaming
— CDC Gaming (@CDCNewswire) March 5, 2020
The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who play in the T-Mobile Arena, placed the responsible gaming messages on dashboards along the arena ice surface.
“Gaming should always be enjoyed responsibly,” said Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz. “We look forward to working with the AGA on educating our fans and reinforcing this messaging during our home games.”
Bubolz also commended Nevada’s “longstanding commitment” to responsible gaming.
The AGA said the campaign announcement coincides with the organization’s “Problem Gambling Awareness Month.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
