Each September, the American Gaming Association (AGA), our members, and the broader gaming community celebrate Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) by highlighting and advancing our year-round responsible gaming education efforts.
As we begin RGEM 2024, it’s important to first measure the progress we are making in order to see where we must go. AGA’s annual American Attitudes consumer survey findings should give us confidence that we are on the right path. This year, our research shows:
- 75 percent of Americans believe the gaming industry behaves responsibly in the communities where it operates, a new high.
- 65 percent of Americans now say the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling—a notable rise from 55 percent last year.
- 76 percent of Americans are familiar with at least one responsible gaming resource, an increase from 65 percent in 2022.
And importantly, this sentiment is even stronger with those that engage with our industry the most, with 81 percent of physical casino players and 88 percent of sports bettors agreeing the industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling, up from 70 percent and 78 percent respectively in 2023.
What these numbers show is a clear trend: As gaming expands to new markets and audiences, Americans increasingly see that our commitment to responsibility is real. But as the industry grows, our responsibility efforts must keep pace—and that is what RGEM is all about.
This year, RGEM will provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen the future of responsible gaming by highlighting a number of themes:
Supporting Responsible Betting for Customers
The gaming industry provides ongoing education and self-limiting tools to customers to encourage them to play responsibly. Legal operators also invest heavily in developing data-driven insights that support risk detection and intervention strategies. As technology like AI evolves in these areas, it is critical that we continue to harness these advancements to promote responsible play and guard against risky behavior.
Empowering Employees on the Front Line of Responsibility
Through ongoing, research-based training, it is essential to empower employees with the knowledge and tools necessary to promote responsible gaming for players. Promoting and educating the public about responsible gaming is a responsibility shared by the whole gaming industry, from the dedicated employees on gaming floors to the highest levels of executive leadership.
Ensuring Player Safety: The Benefits of Legal, Regulated Gaming
Providing a legal gaming marketplace protects consumers from the illegal and unregulated market, where there are zero consumer protections, no guarantees of fair play, and no recourse if an operator disappears with a customer’s money. Illegal and unregulated operators also lack sufficient oversight and do not require age verification. And further, the legal gaming industry invests hundreds of millions of dollars in responsible gaming initiatives while the illegal market makes no such investments. Building a safe gaming environment also means combating illegal operators and educating consumers on their dangers.
The modern gaming industry is increasingly investing in player education, implementing technology, and funding research and resources to enhance responsible gaming. These collaborative efforts all work together to strengthen customer safety and our industry at large. We look forward to seeing how the entire gaming industry furthers their responsible gaming efforts during RGEM this September.
For full RGEM resources and more ways to take part this September, visit the AGA’s RGEM webpage at americangaming.org/event/responsible-gaming-education-month-2024.
