The American Gaming Association, the casino industry’s largest U.S. lobbying group, debuted its updated Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming to include sports betting in response to the U.S. Supreme Court lifting the federal ban in May. The updated code states rules for advertising and marketing on TV, online and other media, plus efforts to prevent underage gaming, also apply to sports betting. The rules also urge casinos to make “diligent efforts” to stop minors from gambling or wagering on sports. And it spells out that gambling and sports betting advertising will not “depart from contemporary standards of good taste” or feature images that may appeal to minors.
AGA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Slane said, “As gaming enters a new landscape, our industry is prepared to be a proactive partner in how we approach responsible gaming, highlighted today with our updated Code of Conduct that spells our obligations to our patrons, employees and communities. Every day, gaming industry leaders are working with manufacturers, thought leaders, educators and property owners to proactively address problem gambling. Together, we are maximizing our investment to promote responsible gaming and innovating how we approach the issue.”
The code changes were announced during the industry’s Responsible Gaming Week, celebrating its 21st anniversary. The week annually showcases the industry’s year-round dedication to responsible gaming programs and its ongoing commitment to promoting responsible gaming. Gaming operators and manufacturers across the U.S. use the week to sponsor their own responsible gaming educational activities.
Among other activities, the AGA presented two panel discussions on the evolution of responsible gaming, in Las Vegas and Boston. At University of Nevada-Las Vegas’ International Gaming Institute UNLV, panelists included representatives from UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, BMM Testlabs, Caesars Entertainment and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers. U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada delivered the keynote address. Boston panelists featured representatives from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Penn National Gaming and the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Specifically, the updated AGA Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming requires members make a voluntary pledge to: have an established self-exclusion policy; prevent underage gambling to the best of their ability; communicate the legal gambling age in marketing materials; and place marketing materials where underage people are unlikely to see it.
Slane said the AGA already has started working with sports leagues and broadcast companies about industry responsibilities. “We want to work in partnership with the larger stakeholders in the community, including the broadcasters and the leagues to ensure that advertising that is happening around sports betting is being done responsibly. We’re going to be launching in the next couple of weeks our own task force which is going to be comprised of communications experts in this field as well as getting perspectives from around the world on how they’ve dealt with advertising and the different responsibilities,” Slane said.
During a panel discussion, Slane cited daily fantasy sports as an example of what not to do regarding sports betting advertising. “One of the best lessons we learned was from the mistakes that daily fantasy sports made back in 2015, certainly when it came to the issue of advertising responsibly. They got way out ahead of their skis in 2015 with a barrage on the airwaves with all sorts of advertising that made regulators and legislators scratch their heads and say to themselves, ‘What is this? Is this gambling? Is this regulated? What’s going on here?’ We absolutely do not want to make the mistakes that were made back in 2015.”
AGA Vice President of Strategic Communications Casey Clark noted “the first priority for successful sports betting markets in the United States is empower state legislatures and sovereign tribal governments. These entities have proven to be effective regulators of gaming for decades. Federal action to regulate sports betting failed for the past 26 years. The decision by the Supreme Court now makes it possible for states and sovereign tribal nations to give Americans what they want: an open and transparent market for sports betting, while also giving specific constituencies opportunities to decide what works best for them.”
He summarized, “The casino gaming industry is dedicated to building the world’s most secure and successful sports betting system. The AGA will pursue policies that empower state regulation, place consumers first, strengthen game integrity, promote responsible gaming and responsible advertising and encourage contracts over statutes.”
The AGA is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which provides 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. The AGA’s mission is to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.
