90 percent casino visitors practice responsible gaming, study shows

The new study released Wednesday by the AGA shows bettors report setting budgets, sticking to them and being aware of available responsible gaming resources at significantly high rates.

According to the research:

• 9 in 10 casual bettors set a budget before they visit a casino;
• 90 percent of those visitors report success in tracking their spending; and
• 8 in 10 casual casino visitors and 9 in 10 avid casino visitors are aware of responsible gaming resources.

"Responsible gaming is our industry's top priority," said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. "This research indicates that our unwavering commitment to responsibility is resonating with our customers. But success in this key area will never mean our work is done, and we look forward to continuing to work with gaming regulators, our partners in the fight against problem gambling and our employees to ensure customers continue to engage in this form of mainstream entertainment responsibly."

This research comes on the heels of a recent AGA study that highlighted continued growth in acceptance of gaming. That research indicates that 88 percent of American adults view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment. Americans also have a positive view of the industry's role as a community partner, with 80 percent of people recognizing gaming's role as a job creator, and 6 in 10 Americans believing casinos help their local economies.

"Gaming has made great strides over the past few years with the public increasingly recognizing our industry as the community partner and economic driver we know it to be," continued Miller. "I look forward to working with our members and all interested stakeholders to build upon this great momentum in the years to come."

The U.S. gaming industry commits more than $300 million to responsible gaming annually, supporting education, training and rehabilitation programs across the country.

Last year, AGA launched the Responsible Gambling Collaborative, convening a renowned group of thought leaders, stakeholders and academics to chart a new course on the complex issue of responsible gaming.

AGA members adhere to the association's Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct which guides industry commitments to responsible gaming and is updated annually to reflect new developments and industry innovations. In 2018, AGA updated the Code to enhance provisions on sports betting and responsible advertising.

Methodology: Today's data comes from two separate polls completed in late 2018. Data on Americans' acceptance of gaming comes from our survey of American's attitudes toward gaming and was conducted by the Mellman Group of 1,000 registered voters, both online and on the phone. Data on casino visitors' responsible gaming practices comes from a survey of 2,014 past year casino gamblers. This survey was conducted online by BrandOutlook.