AGA and IGT Announce "Responsible Gaming Education Week"

BILOXI, Miss. — In an effort to emphasize the casino gaming-entertainment industry’s commitment to responsible gaming, today the American Gaming Association (AGA), in collaboration with International Game Technology (IGT), designated “Responsible Gaming Education Week” for the casino industry to actively promote responsible gaming practices within their companies. This designated week will be major component of the AGA’s “Responsible Gaming National Education Campaign.”

During a May 5 gathering of casino industry representatives at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi, Mississippi, Bob McMonigle, executive vice president of IGT, announced that casino companies will be asked to devote the entire week of August 3, 1998, to promoting responsible gaming activities. As part of this effort, the AGA will provide more than 200,000 educational brochures, financed by IGT, on disordered gambling to casino employees across the country.

“The best way to make a difference when it comes to the issue of disordered gambling is by having the entire industry work together to implement responsible gaming programs,” said McMonigle. “IGT’s commitment to responsible gaming demonstrates the ability for casino companies and manufacturers to join together to combat the problems that exist. For one week this year — ‘Responsible Gaming Education Week’ — let’s all make sure we do our part.”

“Responsible Gaming Education Week” is an extension of the AGA’s long-term “Responsible Gaming National Education Campaign, which was announced last October at the World Gaming Congress. The campaign is an effort to raise the level of awareness of the problems that exist and to educate casino employees and customers about the importance of responsible gaming.

As part of this outreach effort during “Responsible Gaming Education Week,” the AGA will ask all casino employees to submit their best ideas for helping to raise the awareness of responsible gaming throughout the industry. Additionally, the AGA will send information packets to AGA-member casino and manufacturer companies, which will include brochures, posters, articles for company publications, paycheck stuffers and a pamphlet with proposed responsible gaming activities for the week.

IGT manufactures gaming devices for the casino industry. As a supplier to the casino industry, the company has taken a leading role in addressing the issue of disordered gambling and the need for responsible gaming.

The AGA represents the gaming-entertainment industry by addressing regulatory, legislative and educational issues. The association serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops aggressive educational and advocacy programs and provides leadership in addressing industry issues that are of public concern.