The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the expansion of its “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” public service campaign with the introduction of a fifth pillar: “Keep Your Cool”. This new pillar reinforces the campaign’s mission to promote responsible sports wagering by emphasizing athlete harassment is never appropriate.

The announcement comes as data highlights the growing effectiveness of responsible gaming programs across the country. According to recent research, 66% of Americans believe the gaming industry’s responsible gaming initiatives are effective, up from 59% in 2023. Among those who actively participate in gaming, 79% of physical casino players and 85% of sports bettors agree these programs are working, including an impressive 73% of young bettors aged 18-24.

“Responsible gaming efforts like Have A Game Plan and other proactive efforts by legal operators are resonating with consumers and making a difference. ‘Keep Your Cool’ builds on this momentum by reminding bettors that a betting result – good or bad – is not an invitation to criticize a team, official, or athlete,” said Bill Miller, President and CEO of the AGA.

Since its launch in 2019, “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” has educated bettors through four foundational pillars:

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• Set a Budget: Establish and stick to a financial limit.

• Keep It Social: Bet responsibly as part of a shared activity.

• Know the Odds: Know the terminology and understand risks before placing bets.

• Play Legally: Use regulated, legal betting platforms.

The new “Keep Your Cool” pillar complements these principles by promoting sportsmanship and emphasizing the social aspects of sports betting:

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Respect the Game: Winning and losing are part of sports betting, nobody is perfect; the result of a bet should not prompt negative actions – in person or online – toward athletes and officials.

Stay Focused on Having Fun: Sports betting is entertainment.

NASCAR, an early supporter of Have A Game Plan, underscored the importance of the new pillar. “At NASCAR, we believe responsible gaming enhances the overall fan experience. ‘Keep Your Cool’ reflects our shared commitment to encouraging fans to bet responsibly and maintain a respectful approach to the sport they love,” said Steve Phelps, President of NASCAR.

With responsible gaming messaging resonating stronger than ever, Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly. continues to foster a more enjoyable betting environment for fans.

U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached $17.71 billion in Q3 2024, the industry’s highest-grossing Q3 on record, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. This makes Q3 2024 the industry’s 15th consecutive quarter of annual revenue growth, with September marking the 43rd straight month of rising year-over-year commercial gaming revenue.

Through the first nine months of the year, nationwide commercial gaming revenue stands at $53.24 billion, pacing 8.0 percent ahead of 2023 and putting the industry on track for a fourth straight record revenue year.

In Q3 2024, 29 of the 35 commercial gaming jurisdictions operational last year saw increased year-over-year revenue. This growth resulted in an 8.9 percent year-over-year increase in state and local taxes tied directly to gaming revenue, with commercial gaming operators contributing $3.79 billion in taxes across the quarter.

Quarterly revenue from land-based gaming – encompassing casino slots, table games and retail sports betting – totaled $12.56 billion, 0.62 percent lower than Q3 2023. Meanwhile, combined revenue from online sports betting and iGaming totaled $5.14 billion in Q3 2024 as online gaming made up 29.0 percent of commercial gaming revenue, a significantly higher share than in Q3 2023.

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Looking at each sector in Q3 2024:

• Traditional Gaming: Traditional brick-and-mortar casino gaming generated quarterly revenue of $12.38 billion, a contraction of 0.9 percent year-over-year.
• Legal Sports Betting: Americans legally wagered $30.3 billion on sports, generating $3.24 billion in quarterly revenue (+42.4% YoY). Recent market launches in Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina and Vermont contributed to this growth.
• iGaming: iGaming generated $2.08 billion in revenue, marking a 30.3 percent year-over-year increase.

“Q3 2024 continued gaming’s momentum from the first half of the year, with online casino and sports betting driving strong growth. At the same time, new brick-and-mortar casino openings bolstered traditional gaming, which still accounts for the bulk of industry revenue,” said AGA Vice President of Research David Forman. “More than a quarter of commercial revenue now regularly comes from online sources, raising the importance of continued sustainable growth with consumers in those states.”

MGM Resorts International and BetMGM announced that they are once again partnering with the American Gaming Association (AGA) to promote Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM 2024) in September. The two companies will execute their responsible gaming campaign at designated National Football League (NFL) stadiums for the second year, with increased exposure for GameSense. GameSense is an industry-leading responsible gaming program first developed and licensed to MGM Resorts in 2017 by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). The program focuses on positive, transparent, and proactive engagements with guests and customers about how to gamble responsibly. With this development, GameSense marketing will appear more often and in more prominent venue locations during each game.

GameSense messaging will be promoted at the following stadiums:

• Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders)
• Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos)
• Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
• GHEA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs)
• M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)
• MetLife Stadium (New York Jets)
• Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans)
• State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals)

In 2023, MGM Resorts and BetMGM were among the first gaming operators to promote responsible gaming through marketing within League stadiums.

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“We’re excited to bring responsible gaming initiatives directly to fans in these NFL venues again this season. We are setting a new standard for safety and awareness in the industry. At BetMGM, we believe that protecting our players and promoting responsible play is essential to the future of sports betting,” Rhea Loney, Chief Compliance Officer at BetMGM, said.

BetMGM will also add to its catalog of advertisements in the coming months that highlight its comprehensive responsible gaming resources. The spots will feature brand ambassadors sharing engaging messaging, similar to its highly regarded responsible gaming commercial featuring NHL MVP Connor McDavid.

Also, coinciding with RGEM 2024, MGM Resorts is announcing a $440,000 contribution to fund responsible gaming research through the International Center for Responsible Gaming and Kindbridge Research Institute. These studies aim to advance industry best practices and fill significant research gaps on under-studied populations, including women military Veterans.

Stephen Martino, SVP and Chief Compliance Officer at MGM Resorts, said: “The importance of responsible gaming research funding cannot be overstated. As a gaming industry leader, it’s imperative that our company supports efforts to better understand the diverse impact gambling has on various populations, including those that may be at greater risk of developing problematic behaviors.”

Throughout RGEM 2024, MGM Resorts and BetMGM will continue to conduct extensive training to raise employee awareness of responsible gaming. Recently, MGM Resorts’ GameSense Advisor Program certified more than 500 customer-facing employees, equipping them with the skills and confidence to educate customers about casino games and empower them to make informed decisions. BetMGM will also deploy extensive employee training, including additional education for its VIP Staff, while advancing responsible gaming through lived experiences with its EPIC Global Solutions partnership.

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Additionally in September, new GameSense messaging will be displayed prominently on table games throughout MGM Resorts’ properties nationwide. Similar messaging will continue to be featured on all slot machines, 8000 of which include QR codes offering access to responsible gaming information and educational materials from GameSense. Responsible gaming tips will also appear on MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas marquees and on more than 35,000 screens across the company’s portfolio. BetMGM will release improved responsible gaming tools within its platform as well. These tools are designed to help players manage their budgets, stay within their limits, and promote a responsible and sustainable entertainment experience.

MGM Resorts and BetMGM continue their partnership with the AGA’s “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” public service campaign to educate new and seasoned bettors on responsible sports wagering. The campaign aims to protect customers and reinforces the use of regulated markets, which prioritizes player protection and safeguards.

Joe Maloney, SVP of Strategic Communications at American Gaming Association, said: “Collaboration is integral to strengthening our collective responsibility efforts. Both in their work with the AGA and throughout the legal, regulated gaming industry, MGM Resorts and BetMGM continue to be leaders in forming innovative partnerships that are advancing responsible gaming in meaningful ways.”