Gaming operators share an obligation to maintain high standards that contribute to the well-being of our industry.
As March comes to an end, so does Problem Gambling Awareness Month — which is observed in the US each year during March. To see out the month in style, MGM Resorts International has donated $250,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming
The generous donation will help support the organization’s research and education into gambling disorders. The ICRG was formerly the National Center for Responsible Gaming but changed its name in 2020.
The donation will help the ICRG — which spearheads scientific research on gambling behaviors and responsible gambling in the United States — with funding for a handful of programs that are designed to “educate treatment providers, responsible gambling professionals, regulators, and public policymakers about gambling disorder and responsible gambling.”
“Gaming operators share an obligation to maintain high standards that contribute to the well-being of our industry,” MGM Resorts CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle said via press release.
As sports betting & iGaming become more widely accessible, it’s important that we strengthen our commitment to providing a safe experience for everyone
“We believe the ICRG’s research will complement our commitment to GameSense, guide the advancement of responsible gaming, and help us improve the ways we engage with our guests to promote healthy play. As sports betting and iGaming become more widely accessible, it’s important that we strengthen our commitment to providing a safe experience for everyone, whether they’re playing at one of our casino resorts or through one of our apps,” he went on to say.
“As one of our original donors, MGM Resorts International has literally helped create the field of study on gambling addiction and responsible gambling,” ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky, said via press release. “We are deeply grateful for their continuing support of efforts to effectively prevent and treat gambling disorder.”
ICRG-Funded Research Includes:
- Informing the industry on the problem gambling health risks of casino employees.
- Creation of the only research-based website on college gambling.
- The launch of a national campaign to make parents and teachers aware of youth gambling.
- Ongoing: Evaluating the responsible gambling tools of self-imposed limits on time and money spent gambling.
- Ongoing: The national impact of sports wagering.
The research into whether responsible gambling tools are an effective way of managing gambling behavior is particularly interesting. Empowering players to set time and money limits on the site is a key way for operators to implement responsible gambling measures on their sites. The most common responsible gambling tools are:
Common Responsible Gambling Tools Include:
- Time Limits
- Deposit Limits
- Loss Limits
- Tournament Limits
- Time Outs & Cool-Offs
We remain focused on offering new & innovative resources to our guests, designed to increase responsible gaming awareness & to promote healthy play
This donation is not the only gesture MGM Resorts has made during Problem Gambling Awareness Month to show its commitment to responsible gambling measures.
Both MGM Resorts and its online arm BetMGM are increasing its GameSense program across all land-based and online products. The operator has also expanded its own employee training recently and dedicated GameSense advisors can now be found at each MGM Rewards desk on US properties.
As of March 2022, the program will also be fully integrated into BetMGM’s desktop and mobile app as well.
“As we enter our fifth year with GameSense, we remain focused on offering new and innovative resources to our guests, designed to increase responsible gaming awareness and to promote healthy play,” Hornbuckle said last month. “GameSense remains an instrumental part of our guest service model and we’re confident that it has and will continue to make a difference.”
Learn more about Responsible Gaming at BetMGM in our in-depth BetMGM Poker Review.