Michigan’s ‘Don’t Regret the Bet’ Is Contending at the Shorty Awards

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Larry Henry

Larry Henry is a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor who has been a political editor at the Las Vegas Sun and managing editor at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. Larry also has experience with media outlets in other states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana.

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Last Updated: May 8^th, 2024

The responsible gambling campaign “Don’t Regret the Bet,” organized by the Michigan Gaming Control Board in partnership with King Media, a well-known public relations company, is one of the finalists at this year’s Shorty Awards. The campaign will compete in the Social Good Campaign category, recognizing excellence in implementing a socially good campaign. 

The prestigious competition had its inaugural event in 2008 and is international in scope, honoring innovative projects by agencies, nonprofits, influencers, and brands across social and digital platforms. This year’s winners will be revealed on May 22 at an official event that will take place in New York City. 

The Real Time Academy, a group of industry professionals who will evaluate the entries based on their creativity, strategy, and engagement, will determine the winners. Furthermore, public voting will be taken into consideration when making the decision on who will be the winners.

Some previous Shorty Award winners include Trevor Noah, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Bill Nye, and Conan O’Brien. However, multiple renowned organizations and companies have been honored, and some of the winners have been Chipotle, Nestle, Airbnb, Marvel Studios, HBO, UNICEF, Red Bull, and the Human Rights Campaign.

Appealing Responsible Gambling Campaign 

The MGCB launched the “Don’t Regret the Bet” campaign in March 2023 to offer players of Michigan casinos online a way to prevent the development of gambling problems. The collaboration with King Media focused on creating engaging and visible ads that targeted an audience with a predisposition to developing gambling addiction.  

The ads are aired across the Wolverine State via TV, radio channels, digital billboards, social media posts, and point-of-sale video ads. Additionally, podcasts have been a tool to spread the message about awareness of gambling addiction. 

Despite being active for just one year, the “Don’t Regret the Bet” campaign has already had a significant impact. Last year, it received three prestigious awards: the Platinum Viddy Award in August, the Platinum dotCOMM Award in September, and the Platinum MarCom Award in October. 

In its inaugural year, this campaign generated impressive results and added value for the MGCB. The regulatory agency secured $3 million in funding from the Michigan state budget for 2024 responsible gambling projects.

Engaging iGaming Market

The MGCB’s responsible gaming department raises awareness by educating players about available actions that maintain responsible gambling behaviors. This is a priority, considering Michigan has a very dynamic iGaming market, probably the most dynamic one in the US, with 15 licensed operators. Popular online casinos DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetMGM, and Caesars Palace Online Casino control a significant market share in the Wolverine State.   

Over 10,000 slots are available across all Great Lakes State casino apps, and the Michigan online casino bonus offers are competitive. Because of the entertainment value offered, the MGCB prioritizes empowering players to tackle gambling problems, offering informational materials, and public speaking engagements.

Updated by

Larry Henry is a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor who has been a political editor at the Las Vegas Sun and managing editor at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. Larry also has experience with media outlets in other states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana.

Read Full Bio

Larry Henry

Last Updated:
 
May 8^th, 2024