As legal gaming markets continue to expand in the US, support for further regulation and legalization of sports betting, casino gaming and other forms of gambling is also on the rise.
Nationwide research by the American Gaming Association (AGA) found that there was a significant growth in popular support for regulated gaming, as two-thirds of adults believe that the sports betting industry positively impacts the economy, provides good jobs and should be regulated in their state.
Polls show that Americans at large believe the gaming industry is good for their communities, with seven out of ten Americans believing it to be acting responsibly and 57% of all adults seeing ways in which the industry gives back to their communities.
What is interesting about the numbers is that they have grown exponentially over the last several years, since regulated gaming actually became a reality in a number of states.
Compared to 2018, 40% more Americans say that operators are dedicated to responsible gambling, and a vast majority of people who have gambled in the past are aware of various responsible gaming resources, including deposit limits, time limits and casino employee training.
Responsible Gaming Education Week underway
To promote responsible gambling, AGA will hold Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW) from September 19 to 25. The event is meant to bring together all of the biggest players in the industry to discuss responsibility, and showcase the efforts that the industry at large is making to promote responsible gambling.
At this year’s RGEW, the AGA showcases its “Have a Game Plan – Bet Responsibly” public service campaign, which is bringing together the various stakeholders in the sports betting industry to discuss education and promote responsible sports betting.
The campaign unites gaming operators, media outlets, sports leagues, teams and others to promote education about responsible sports betting. It is meant to teach players to set a budget, understand betting odds, keep all gaming social and to always bet with regulated operators.
The AGA aims to promote its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, which is a self-imposed rulebook that restricts those who follow it from targeting certain audiences and through certain outlets, while mandating responsible gambling inclusion in all market activities.
With the gaming industry growing by the year and set to break its own annual revenue record in 2021, the AGA believes providing consumers with effective and easily accessible resources when they need help is the only way to maintain growth and reach sustainability.
The AGA said casino gaming is legal in 44 states, four of which were added in the last five years. Meanwhile, sports betting is legal in 32 states and the District of Columbia, while six states offer legal iGaming, according to the AGA.
Poll methodology
To examine the popular support for legal gaming in the US, the AGA conducted two national surveys through Kantar and YouGov. The polls asked various questions regarding legal gaming and included a sample of more than 2,000 Americans, with an approximate sample of age, gender, race, region and other factors.
The Kantar survey, conducted between August 13 and September 1, polled 2,000 adult Americans, while YouGov polled 2,033 adults in the US between June 26 and June 30.
The results of both surveys were similar, with popular support for regulated gaming significantly higher compared to polls in previous years.
