WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) and National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) are joining gaming companies nationwide for the 16th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), which takes place Aug. 5-9. This year’s theme, “How Do You Say Responsible Gaming?” promotes the message that no matter what language gaming employees and customers speak, it is important that they all understand responsible gaming.

“The gaming industry is proud of our extensive year-round efforts to promote responsible gaming,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “We are truly a global industry with employees and customers from all over the world, which makes this year’s RGEW focus on diversity and multiculturalism more relevant than ever.”

In conjunction with RGEW, the AGA and the NCRG released new responsible gaming videos. The AGA’s “What Are the Odds?” video illustrates the house advantage inherent in all casino games and demonstrates how America’s favorite game – the slot machine – actually works. The NCRG’s “What is a Gambling Disorder?” video explains in simple language the science that informs understanding of gambling disorders.

Also, the AGA is making its most popular responsible gaming brochures available for the first time in French, Korean, traditional Chinese and Vietnamese—in addition to English and Spanish.

In addition to the AGA’s coordinated nationwide activities during RGEW, individual casinos and gaming companies have developed their own activities to educate employees and customers, including:

• Customers at Hollywood Casino – Aurora (Ill.) can participate in a game show on the casino’s Center Stage entertainment venue, during which they answer questions related to responsible gaming to win prizes;
• Las Vegas Sands Corp. is holding its second round of Responsible Gaming Ambassador training and plans to add 30 responsible gaming ambassadors. The company also is taking RGEW global by displaying informational materials at its Macau and Singapore properties;
• Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville (Mo.) is planning an action-packed RGEW, including puzzles and quizzes for staff members, with prizes for employees who correctly answer questions about responsible gaming;
• Ameristar Casinos Inc. properties across the country will engage their employees through messages in the company’s internal Winning newsletter, on desktop screensavers and during pre-shift meetings throughout the week;
• Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (W. Va.) will educate guests by putting responsible gaming messages on LCD screens on the casino floor;
• Guests of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.’s River City and Lumière Place Casinos, in St. Louis, can learn more about responsible gaming by picking up informational brochures at its myChoice player’s club and cashier locations; and
• At each of Boyd Gaming Corporation’s properties, the NCRG’s new video, “What is a Gambling Disorder?” will displayed in the team member dining rooms throughout RGEW.

To illustrate this year’s RGEW theme, the AGA will collect video clips of gaming companies’ employees saying key responsible gaming messages in their native languages. The final video compilation will be distributed via social media and posted soon on the AGA’s YouTube channel.

RGEW was developed in 1998 as part of the Responsible Gaming National Education Campaign, a long-term, comprehensive program spearheaded by the AGA. RGEW is designed to heighten awareness of responsible gaming and gambling disorders among employees, customers and the general public.

For all the latest AGA and industry news, connect with the AGA on Twitter and Facebook.

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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 educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.