VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — In a presentation before the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), called for several new initiatives to curb disordered and underage gambling. The recommendations include:

1. A call for all gaming companies — including casinos, lotteries, pari-mutuels and charitable gaming operations — to participate in and contribute to public and employee awareness programs, research, and training.
2. An across-the-board increase in the legal age to gamble to 21.
3. The adoption of an advertising program that includes voluntary standards for gambling advertising.
4. “The casino entertainment industry has long had a commitment to addressing disordered and underage gambling,” Fahrenkopf said. “These recommendations further demonstrate our leadership on these important issues.”

During the presentation, Fahrenkopf also unveiled PROGRESS (Promoting Responsible Gaming Research and Education Standards), the industry’s newest component of its Responsible Gaming National Education Campaign. The PROGRESS kit, now under development, will be provided to AGA members and offered to nonmembers at cost, giving these companies all the tools necessary to implement a comprehensive responsible gaming program. The multimedia kit will include a general volume as well as curricula for disordered and underage gambling. The general volume will contain overviews of key issues, samples of brochures and other materials.

Fahrenkopf also presented a PROGRESS chart, which provided commissioners with a visual overview of the industry’s accomplishments to date on this issue.

Several additional recommendations were made by the industry to the commission, which had solicited input from interested parties as it begins preparing its final report on the social and economic impact of gaming in the United States.

“While our industry has made great strides in promoting public and employee awareness, research and policy initiatives, we recognize that every sector of the gaming industry needs to participate,” Fahrenkopf said. “We appreciate the opportunity to testify before the commission about our recommendations and hope that they will serve as guidance as the commissioners prepare their final report.”

The AGA represents the commercial casino entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops aggressive educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on issues of public concern.