By
Sasha C. Russell, Program Specialists, Communications, The Massachusetts
Council on Compulsive Gambling
From August 5th- 9th,
2013 the casino industry and its partners celebrated Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW). RGEW was started in 1998
by The American Gaming Association (AGA), “to increase awareness
of problem gambling among gaming industry employees and customers, and to
promote responsible gaming nationwide.”
“How Do You Say Responsible Gaming?” is the
theme for RGEW 2013. This theme was chosen to remind everyone that no matter
what language you speak, every casino employee and visitor should “speak
responsible gaming.” Essentially, this means that casino employees are expected
understand how to talk to customers about gambling with limits, the reality of
the odds of winning, and how casino machines work, as well as knowing when to
refer someone to problem gambling services if needed.
During RGEW and throughout the
year, many people who work in the gambling industry share the knowledge of how
to lower risk factors when gambling with their guests, colleagues, friends and
family. Throughout the week, casinos around the country hosted activities to get
their employees actively thinking about how they can be ambassadors to the community
on this important issue.
In preparation for RGEW the AGA
and the National Center for Responsible
Gaming (NCRG),
released new responsible gaming
videos. The video by the NCRG, “What is a Gambling Disorder?” , “explains in simple
language the science that informs our understanding of gambling disorders.” The
AGA’s video, “What Are the
Odds?”, is meant to “illustrate
the house advantage inherent in all casino games and demonstrates how America’s
favorite game – the slot machine – actually works” In addition to the In addition
to the videos, other materials, such as quizzes to test your responsible
gambling knowledge, are also available.
Members of the Massachusetts Partnership on Responsible
Gambling (MPRG), (The Mass. Council, Mohegan Sun Massachusetts, the
Massachusetts State Lottery, Caesar’s Resort at Suffolk Downs, MGM Resorts
& Casino, and Plainridge Racecourse) recognize RGEW. Council
representatives worked with fellow MPRG members to host information tables to
help raise awareness about problem gambling services at various events across
the Commonwealth during the week.
The goal of the MPRG is to
assist Massachusetts communities, and the individuals and families within them,
by advocating for and implementing responsible gaming industry policies and
practices as well as promoting public awareness and encouraging programs for
prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery of problem gambling.
Though RGEW happens once a
year, it is important to recognize limits and preventative measures to lower
the risk of people becoming affected by problem gambling year-round. Problem
gambling does not discriminate and can affect someone’s life anytime during the
year.
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