As the excitement of a new football season takes hold, September is an opportune moment to share our commitment to responsible gaming at MGM Resorts. While this time of the year provides an opportunity to renew focus on this critical initiative, MGM Resorts’ dedication to responsible gaming is unwavering and year-round. It is not a seasonal marketing effort; responsible gaming is a fundamental aspect of who we are and what we do.
At MGM Resorts, responsibility is woven into the fabric of our organization. Our commitment aligns with our broader vision of sustainability and ethical practices. As an industry leader, we recognize the importance of cultivating an enjoyable environment for all our guests. This is why we have embraced GameSense, a pioneering responsible gaming initiative developed and licensed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through GameSense, we enhance our guests’ understanding of gambling, ensuring that they have the tools and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions. Clarity and honesty are at the heart of GameSense. We encourage our patrons to set budgets and know their limits. No one should gamble if it isn’t fun, and that is what we tell them.
Our focus is evident in our public messaging efforts, which are showcased prominently at our properties. We display responsible gaming messages on our iconic Las Vegas marquees, ensuring that they are constantly visible—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. These messages are shared alongside the promotion of major global events, such as the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. It’s all part of a year-round investment to show how important responsible gaming is to our vision of being the world’s premier gaming entertainment company.
With more than 25,000 slot machines and 1,200 table games across our U.S. properties, and also within our casino’s BetMGM Sportsbooks, we have made it our mission to ensure that responsible gaming messaging is accessible and applicable to all players. We want to normalize the conversation around responsible gaming, encouraging guests to stay within their entertainment budgets. This is not just about compliance; it is about fostering a culture of responsibility that prioritizes the well-being of our patrons.
At the heart of our responsible gaming efforts are our employees, who are crucial in promoting responsible play. At MGM Resorts, we exceed the regulatory requirements for employee training. We have made significant investments in comprehensive training programs that empower our staff to engage with guests effectively. Recently, we certified more than 500 of our employees as GameSense Advisors, equipping them with the knowledge, skillset and confidence to guide guests toward responsible gaming practices.
Our commitment to training involves traveling to our properties across the U.S. to provide in-person sessions, often pulling employees from the gaming floor or compensating them on their days off to participate. This investment underscores our belief that well-informed employees are essential to promoting responsible gaming experiences. Encouraging our team members to initiate conversations about responsible gaming not only enhances the guest experience but also reinforces that gambling should remain a form of entertainment and not a way to make money.
MGM Resorts has a proud history of supporting peer-reviewed research on responsible gaming and problem gambling. We believe that funding research is one of the most effective ways to champion a strong culture of responsibility. Coinciding with Responsible Gaming Education Month, we proudly announced a $440,000 contribution to fund research through the International Center for Responsible Gaming and the Kindbridge Research Institute.
This will support research-focused gaming organizations and academic institutions, enabling independent, evidence-based studies. By sharing the findings of this research broadly, we can enhance understanding and promote best practices. Our commitment to addressing under-researched populations, including women military veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and casino employees, demonstrates our dedication to inclusivity and comprehensive strategies.
Our focus on responsibility has opened doors to opportunities, allowing us to explore expansion into new markets while building stakeholder, regulator, and consumer confidence. As we look to introduce innovative forms of entertainment in locations like New York and Osaka, Japan, we are dedicated to utilizing locally tailored versions of the GameSense platform. This approach will ensure that our guests receive relevant information that resonates with them.
As operators, it’s our responsibility to provide guests with the necessary information to help them make informed choices when they make a bet. This is for the wellbeing of our guests, our company, and our industry.
Being responsible and inclusive in what we do is one of MGM Resorts’ guiding principles. We carry out this belief through our comprehensive responsible gaming efforts. We’re immensely proud to provide our guests with this high level of customer service so they can enjoy extraordinary experiences during their visits with us.
