6 of the largest gaming operators in Illinois have teamed up to spread the message of responsible gambling. The 6 legal casinos in the state worked together to create a 12-point pledge that will see the principles of responsible gambling being upheld.
In particular, MGM Resorts, Entain, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Bally’s all came together and committed themselves to uphold the values of responsible online gambling. The gambling operators in Illinois are also recommending that the 12-point pledge be enforced as an industry standard not just in Illinois but the rest of the country as well.
Since the last responsible gambling guide was released in 2019, an additional 2 states have since legalized retail casino gaming, 16 more have legalized their sports wagering markets while an additional 2 states have legalized their iGaming markets.
While operators across the country have already proven that they are committed to creating a safe and responsible gambling environment for their customers, having a shared set of rules will ensure that a standard is maintained. This year is the first time that responsible gambling education will be held for 4 weeks instead of the traditional 1 week.
This September marked the first time that the American Gambling Association organized a month-long responsible gambling month. The Association kicked off responsible gambling month by releasing its newly updated version of the Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide.
This guide was last updated in 2019 and will act as a well-organized collection of regulations and statutes addressing responsible gambling in the 34 states with legal betting, as well as the District of Columbia which currently allows sports betting, casino gaming, as well as iGaming.
What we cover
So what exactly does the 12-point pledge consist of?
The 12-point pledge has been designed to help the largest operators in Illinois deal with the inevitable issue that is problem gambling across the state. The 6 gambling operators have recorded soaring revenues since the expansion of online casino legislation occurred in 2018. However, as the industry has continued to grow and expand, so have the instances of problem gambling among the population.
Not only are gambling operators stepping up to take more responsibility for overseeing the safety of their customers, but these companies are also going out of their way to educate customers regarding the potential health issues and side effects that come with problem gambling. While the operators are typically deeply competitive, the gambling companies saw it fit to put their differences aside so they can stand together and adopt these life-changing principles.
It is important to know that the 12-point pledge falls under 4 primary attributes that all the gambling operators have agreed to. The primary principles include:
- Operators shall only operate in markets that are legal and in markets that offer protections to customers.
- Operators shall strive to create and maintain a culture of responsible gambling throughout their businesses, online and offline.
- All forms of gambling online should be a form of entertainment or a fun activity.
- The gambling operators also recognize that while most punters are indeed capable of regulating themselves and enjoying online gambling responsibly, there are a few that require additional tools and resources to support their game-related activities responsibly.
These 4 principles have been around for a while and are, in fact, nothing new. Across Europe, gambling operators have been enforcing responsible betting education for years. For instance, in Sweden, gambling addiction has been a concern for years.
Collectively, the gambling operators in the UK have the privilege to set the tone for the rest of the country as far as responsible gambling education is concerned. As part of the 12 points, operators in Illinois have agreed to take all active steps necessary to ensure that underage individuals are protected from the dangers of gambling.
Unfortunately, it has proven almost impossible for these operators to bar underage gamblers from accessing online casinos and sportsbooks. As such, as part of the 12-point plan, operators have also agreed to invest a lot more money in technology that validates ID to reduce the instances of underage gambling.
The 6 casino companies in Illinois also agree that they are responsible for helping customers make more informed decisions. The operators have pledged to provide detailed guides on how to get started, as well as comprehensive tutorials and information to help punters learn how to use some of the responsible gambling tools that are available.
The 6 casino operators also agree to adopt a unified responsible gambling toll-free helpline that will be available for punters across the country. The UK, Italy, and various countries in the European Union have successfully adopted such toll-free lines, many of which are operated by charities and organizations looking to stamp out gambling addiction.
Operators in Illinois also agree to adhere to the standards of responsible advertising as far as gambling offers and bonuses are concerned. The operators have all agreed to adhere to any and all laws set by the state and the federal government. The decision to add responsible gaming advertising could not come at a better time as more and more people continue to be exposed to constant betting ads.
Plus, as sports betting commercials continue to become larger and more animated, more and more kids and underage children are becoming exposed to these ads, thus normalizing betting and making it look appealing to youngsters. While the advertising standards will vary from one state to the next, enforcing standard advertising rules will prevent youngsters from growing up with a warped understanding of gambling and its dangers.
Final Thoughts
All 6 casinos have also agreed to offer customers an array of responsible gambling tools which will include financial, self-inclusion, account limit tools, and more. When responsible gambling tools were introduced in the UK more than 10 years ago, there was a lot of pushback from both the punters and operators.
However, over the years, these tools have helped to save thousands of lives while reducing the instances of gambling addiction, which is why Illinois is so keen on adopting and enforcing them.
