AGA Survey Shows Increased Awareness of Responsible Gaming

Americans reported more awareness of the tools available for responsible gaming and the value of legal options for gaming, even as gaming activity increases.
AGA Survey Shows Increased Awareness of Responsible Gaming
By
October 24, 2022

In a recent survey run by the American Gaming Association (AGA), Americans reported more awareness of the tools available for responsible gaming and the value of legal options for gaming. The survey also showed that 42% of American adults gambled in the last 12 months and that casino visitation is rebounding from the 2021 pandemic levels.

October is one of the busiest months in sports, which is reflected in US sports betting numbers. As many as 46.6 million Americans plan to bet on the current NFL season which is a new record and up 3% year-over-year.

Among the more significant takeaways from the survey was that Americans appear to be moving away from unlicensed betting operations. One indicator of the move to legal options was a drop in the number of bettors who will use a bookie during the current NFL season. Just 13% of those surveyed said they were planning to use a bookie to make their NFL bets, down 2% from the previous year and five points off 2020’s 18% figure.

Another key finding was that responsible gaming messages are more widely spread. 90% of those surveyed recalled a responsible gambling message, and more than half reported seeing more messaging around responsible gaming than in previous years.

Getting the message heard is one thing, but the effectiveness of the message matters as well. In the responsible gaming area, just getting the message out isn’t enough — players who need help have to respond to it too.

The good news is that 82% of those surveyed said responsible gaming programs are at least somewhat effective. Nearly as many (81%) saw the gaming industry as committed to encouraging responsible behavior from its customers.

As part of the proof of the effectiveness of both the messages and regulated gaming options, the survey found Americans seem to prefer legal betting options when they have them. In addition to the drop in bettors looking to use an unregulated bookie this NFL season, the survey found that bookie usage is 50% higher in jurisdictions that don’t have an option for regulated sports betting.

As of this fall, as many as 132 million American adults can legally place bets in their home state, an increase of 18 million over 2021. In a nod to the preference for regulated, legal options, 89% of survey respondents said placing their bets with a legal sports book was at least somewhat important.

A Few Key Findings

  • Legal Gaming Options
    • 89% of gamblers in land-based casinos last year said it was at least somewhat important the casino they gambled in was legal and regulated.
    • 89% of sports bettors in the previous year said it was at least rather important they placed their bets at a legal sportsbook.
    • 84% of iGamers in the past year said it was at least somewhat important their casino platform was legal and regulated.
  • Other Findings:
    • 76% of past-year gamblers said understanding the house edge in the games they play was important.
    • 66% of Americans say the gaming industry behaves responsibly in the communities in which it operates.
    • 73% of past-year gamblers and 81% of past-year sports bettors thought the gaming industry was committed to combatting problem gambling and promoting responsible gaming behaviors.
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