Ninety-percent of the visitors to America’s casinos game responsibly; a statistic that runs concurrently with the rise to an all-time high of the acceptance of gaming. Those are the conclusions of research from two separate polls released last week by the American Gaming Association (AGA.)
The study included data that showed that surveyed players themselves, many of who reported setting budgets and sticking to them, and of knowing about resources that are available to encourage responsible gaming.
Nine tenths of those surveyed decided on a budget before they stepped into the casino and the same percentage successfully tracked their own spending. At the same time eight tenths of those who responded were aware of resources that encourage responsible gaming.
The two separate polls were conducted last year. The survey of the acceptance of gaming was done by the Mellman Group, and included responses from 1,000 registered voters. It was conducted online and by phone.
The data on responsible gaming came from an online survey of 2,014 persons who had patronized a casino in the past year. The study was done by BrandOutlook.
AGA President and CEO Bill Miller hailed the results: “Responsible gaming is our industry’s top priority.” He added, “This research indicates that our commitment to responsibility is resonating with our customers. But success in this area will never mean our work is done. We look forward to continuing to work with gaming regulators, our partners in the fight against problem gambling, and our employees to ensure customers continue to engage in this form of entertainment responsibly.”
An earlier AGA study emphasized the growing acceptance of gaming. It showed that 88 percent of U.S. adults see gaming in a positive light. Eighty percent recognized the industry’s role as a community partner, economic engine and job creator.
The industry spends more than $300 million on responsible gaming a year, supporting rehabilitation and educational programs. In 2018 the AGA kicked off the Responsible Gambling Collaborative, which brings together influential people from the universities, experts, specialists and interested parties. Their mission was to rethink strategies for encouraging responsible gaming.
Members of the AGA endorse its Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct, which is updated every year. Last year’s update included provisions on sports betting and responsible advertising.
