Legal sports betting isn’t the only casino enterprise flourishing across the United States. So is the American Gaming Association’s emphasis on responsible gambling.
“Responsible gaming is core to who we are,” said Cait DeBaun, AGA vice president of strategic communications and responsibility. “It’s part not only of our regulations, but our social license to operate. It’s part of our culture of compliance and our commitment to our communities.”
Those efforts take center stage this week with the AGA’s 24th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week. The endeavor spotlights the industry’s efforts to curb problem gambling, including hundreds of millions of dollars each year for responsible-gaming programs, training for casino employees, and promoting transparency and gaming literacy to customers. The industry’s push for responsible gaming began with Harrah’s “Project 21” and “Operation Bet Smart” in the late 1980s and the “Reno Model” launched in 2004 to involve operators, regulators, customers, treatment programs, and academic researchers in developing policies and programs.
The National Council on Problem Gambling, which will mark its 50th anniversary next year, says about 1 percent of Americans meet the criteria for having a severe gambling problem, while another 2 percent to 3 percent fit the “mild” or “moderate” category.
The council defines problem gambling as behavior patterns that “compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family, or vocational pursuits.” Symptoms include a perceived need to bet more money more quickly and continuing to gamble despite mounting losses and consequences. The council says extreme cases can result in financial ruin and loss of career and family. It puts the social cost at $7 billion a year in the United States alone from criminal-justice and health-care costs, plus job loss, bankruptcy, and other consequences.
DeBaun, noting that the AGA works with the council, said the association’s focus on proactive consumer education complements the council’s concentration on treatment programs. “Ninety-seven percent of Americans enjoy gaming responsibly,” she said. “The percentage of problem gamblers has remained constant, or in some cases declined, despite casinos’ increased availability.”
Like last year, the theme of this year’s Responsible Gaming Education Week is “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly,” tied to the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the United States. Education events available nationwide include:
- Who’s Responsible for Responsible Gaming?: Part of the Conference on Gambling and Addiction sponsored by the International Center for Responsible Gaming, this webinar at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday will feature Heather M. Gray of Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School. She will review findings from three years of surveys of members of MGM’s M life loyalty program. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
- Training on the Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering: Last year, the AGA introduced an enforcement process for meeting its standards for marketing and advertising of sports betting services. This members-only webinar, at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, will give an overview on how to align marketing with the code.
- Consumers First: Centralizing RG Initiatives for the U.S. Mobile Wagering Marketplace: Online discussion panel at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday will feature Brianne Doura-Schawohl, vice president of U.S. policy and strategic development for Epic Risk Management; Anna Sainsbury, founder and chairman of GeoComply; and Richard Taylor, manager of BetMGM’s responsible gambling program. DeBaun will moderate the discussion.
Experts say teens and young adults are at increased risk of problem gambling. DeBaun said the AGA wants to ensure that gambling, especially sports betting and mobile gaming, “remains a fun entertainment opportunity and doesn’t go beyond that.
“With those under the legal age of gaming, it’s important to talk about gaming. You don’t want to make it something that’s taboo or unspoken, because then it becomes more mysterious and that could eventually lead to issues down the line,” she said.
While many states and agencies teach youths about the dangers of alcohol, “that doesn’t exist for gaming,” DeBaun added. “It’s a conversation parents should have with their kids and, as appropriate, the industry should engage in that as well.”
She noted that regulated gambling in casinos, sportsbooks, and online involves “robust” age-verification procedures and know-your-customer protocols, which offshore operators do not use.
“Responsibility is at the center of what we do, and it has been for decades,” DeBaun said. “As the industry expands and we get new partners, whether it’s teams, leagues, media companies, or others, we want to make sure they understand the role they play in responsible gaming and work together to build a long-term market that provides entertainment.”
