In our rapidly evolving digital age, the gaming industry faces both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. Central to navigating this complex landscape is the need for responsible gaming (RG) policies that protect players and ensure sustainable industry growth. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, so must our approaches to promoting and implementing RG initiatives. As we look toward the future, a fundamental necessity remains: the effectiveness of responsible gaming policies hinges on a foundation of robust scientific evidence.
The Advancement of Responsible Gaming
From its humble beginnings when introduced as a pioneering program at Harrah’s in 1989, RG has since evolved into robust programs and comprehensive frameworks designed to facilitate positive experiences for players. However, as the gaming industry and technology continue to grow more sophisticated, so must our strategies for promoting responsible play.
Crafting effective RG policies is no simple task; it requires a profound understanding of player behavior, evidence-driven strategies, and ongoing evaluation. Scientific research serves as the cornerstone of these efforts, offering invaluable insights into player behavior, the efficacy of RG efforts, and the true outcomes of policy interventions. Without this evidence, we risk implementing well-intentioned policies that do nothing to actually protect player wellbeing – or worse, have unintended negative effects that actually create problematic behaviors.
ROGA: Leading the Charge
Today, responsible gaming has transformed from a peripheral concern to a core priority for operators and regulators alike. This commitment is best demonstrated by the creation of the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), a coalition of eight leading online gaming operators—Bally’s Corporation, bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital and PENN Entertainment—working together to advance RG best practices.
ROGA’s mission is clear: to leverage scientific research and data-driven insights to foster healthy gaming behavior. A fundamental component to ROGA’s mission is to conduct and support research to create evidence-based best practices to develop, promote, and enhance responsible gaming programs, tools, and information campaigns.
ROGA’s Research Focus
It’s important to note that responsible gaming is a relatively young field. This is especially true for online responsible gaming. Expanding the scientific knowledge base will help us create innovative approaches that utilize the unique opportunities the online space provides. It will also inform efforts to make RG programs more relevant to all players – who are the target audience of these prevention-based campaigns and tools. For instance, online platforms offer advantages by providing readily accessible RG tools for players to set personal limits. But, despite their promotion and widespread availability, the usage of online RG limit-setting tools remains relatively low. Understanding the reasons behind this underutilization is crucial for developing strategies that resonate with players.
To that end, ROGA’s inaugural research initiative, conducted in partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), involves a comprehensive survey of players to evaluate their awareness, engagement, and perception of RG limit-setting tools, with a specific focus on sports betting.
This research will provide crucial insights into which tools are most effective, who uses them, and what barriers exist to their utilization from a player perspective. Learnings from this project will provide a foundation for testing innovative ways to increase engagement of these tools to create actionable and measurable best practices.
The Path Forward
Evidence-informed policies and programs are not just beneficial—they are essential. Scientific evidence allows us to distinguish assumptions from facts and make informed decisions. Being driven by evidence at both regulatory and operator levels also ensures that strategies remain relevant and effective in an ever-evolving gaming landscape.
By prioritizing evidence-based approaches, we can develop policies that truly make a difference, benefiting players and the industry as a whole. As we forge ahead, let us remain dedicated to using research and data to guide our efforts, ensuring that our intentions translate into meaningful, positive impacts. In essence, this approach ensures a sustainable gaming ecosystem that protects players’ well-being and secures the industry’s future.
