AGA reveals responsible gaming spending reached a new high in ’23

The trade group pointed to rising investments in five specific responsible gaming categories:

• Customer service interactions: $135.4m
• Developing and maintaining RG programs: $122.4m
• Consumer-facing RG education: $107.7m
• Responsible gaming research/other non-profit RG organizations: $31.8m
• Problem gambling supportive services: $26.1m

The AGA wrote that the $471.8m investment in 2023 is up 72% from the $275m spent in 2017. That was a year before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned. At that time, legal sports betting and online casino became states’ rights issues.

‘Industry … proactively invests’ in responsible gaming

The survey was conducted by a “major accounting firm.” AGA members were polled between June-September of this year. According to the release, casino operators, online gaming and sportsbook operators and gaming equipment suppliers were queried.

“This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment,” Joe Maloney, AGA senior vice president, strategic communications said in the press release. “Beyond the considerable taxes gaming companies contribute to fund responsible gaming and problem gambling resources, the industry also proactively invests hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge and safeguards to play responsibly.”

In most legal US gambling jurisdictions, tax revenue is set aside for problem and responsible gaming initiatives. The money may be used for myriad programs, including education and treatment.

Responsible gaming has continued to rise on the priority list in the gambling industry as more and more US jurisdictions legalise. How to manage RG is currently determined state to state. But there are two federal bills that seek to develop a national framework. Those bills would earmark dollars for research, education and help programs. They seek to craft some federal regulations around advertising and other RG issues.

Earlier this month, US Representative Paul Tonko and Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the SAFE Bet Act. In July, the GRIT Act, which would funnel the existing federal gambling excise tax to PG and RG programs, was filed.