Anti-Human Trafficking
The American Gaming Association and the gaming industry are committed to combating human trafficking in all its forms.
The American Gaming Association and the gaming industry are committed to combating human trafficking in all its forms. By educating employees and guests about its most common indicators, and by working with law enforcement and other partners, casinos can and will make an impact in eradicating this form of modern-day slavery.
The AGA Anti-Human Trafficking Task force is comprised of member representatives with expertise in security, hospitality, anti-money laundering compliance, legal and other specialized sectors of our industry.
New Anti-Human Trafficking Training
In partnership with RG24seven, the AGA launched a first-of-its-kind training to educate gaming industry employees on how to combat human trafficking.
Available to all gaming companies beginning today, the free training is based on AGA’s Guide to Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking and draws on expertise from AGA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, nonprofits and law enforcement.
The training uses videos, quizzes and expert voices to educate participants, who will receive a verified certificate upon successful completion. To request organization-wide access to the training, gaming company executives, managers and other representatives should contact .
Industry Toolkit: National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Join the gaming industry this January in recognizing National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Our industry toolkit includes:
- Social Media Graphics
- Key Messages
- Additional Resources
Resource Guide: Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in the Gaming Industry
Traffickers take advantage of legitimate industries and supply chains to find, exploit and traffic victims. This is especially true for the travel and tourism industry—including casino gaming. Human trafficking may be linked to other illegal enterprises such as narcotics or firearm trafficking, terrorist organizations and money laundering.
The AGA recognizes the gaming industry has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that our customers and employees are in a safe environment acting of their own free will, and to take meaningful steps to identify and prevent human trafficking. Awareness, due diligence, and training are critical to protecting vulnerable individuals and keeping criminal activities out of our industry.
Casino gaming is one of the most highly regulated industries in the U.S., with more than 4,000 state and tribal regulators dedicated to overseeing all forms of gaming, including electronic gaming machines. The recent growth of unregulated machines across the country raises concerns including lack of testing, consumer protections, responsible gaming measures, and ultimately deprivation of legitimate gaming operations and economic impacts, as described by AGEM and the AGA*.
Join G2E Insider LIVE for a fresh perspective on combating unregulated gaming machines. Discussion will touch on effective ways to collaborate with law enforcement, policymakers, and regulators on this essential priority, while also educating consumers on how to identify and protect themselves against illegal machines.
*https://agemonline.org/factsheet.pdf
Speakers:
Rick Kalm, Executive Director, Michigan Gaming Control Board
Ed Davis, CEO, Edward Davis LLC Security and Management Consulting, former Boston Police Commissioner
Kevin Mullally, Vice President, Government Relations & General Counsel, GLI
Moderator: Jess Feil, Vice President, Government Relations and Gaming Policy Counsel, AGA
Washington, D.C. – Greenwood Racing Inc., the parent company of Parx Casino® and betPARX®, has joined the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have a Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign.
Through the partnership, Parx will promote responsible gaming consumer education at its sportsbooks, through its betPARX app, and on its digital channels.
“Responsible gaming is an integral part of Greenwood Racing’s sports betting strategy,” said Parx Chief Marketing Officer Marc Oppenheimer. “We’re excited to extend our longstanding commitment to responsible gaming consumer education through this partnership with the AGA.”
Launched in 2019, the Have A Game Plan campaign unites the broader sports betting ecosystem around a common consumer education platform, focusing on four principles of responsible wagering:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social—sports betting is a form of entertainment.
- Know the odds.
- Play with trusted, regulated operators.
“The AGA is thrilled to welcome Parx Casino® and betPARX® as Have A Game Plan campaign partners,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “The expansion of legal sports betting options—to 130 million Americans today—reinforces the importance of bringing together as many voices as possible to educate consumers on responsible wagering.”
Parx joins campaign partners across the sports, media, and gaming landscape, including Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, DraftKings, Delaware North, Entain, FanDuel, Global Payments, MGM Resorts International, MSG Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Rangers, NHL, Nuvei, Penn National Gaming, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, USFL, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Commanders.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. & WASHINGTON, D.C., March 9, 2022 – The new United States Football League (USFL) today announced it has joined the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. The USFL will promote responsible sports wagering through its broadcast, cable, streaming and social media outlets.
“We’re proud to partner with the AGA to help drive the important message to bet responsibly,” said Edward Hartman, USFL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “As sports wagering expands nationwide, the USFL is committed to help educate our fans so they can better enjoy the experience.”
Today, sports wagering is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and 50 percent of American adults can now bet legally in their home state.
“Responsible gaming leadership from professional sports leagues like the USFL is critical to getting sports betting right,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “We’re thrilled to welcome the USFL as a partner and value their commitment to prioritizing responsible sports wagering education for their fans.”
Launched in 2019, the Have A Game Plan campaign promotes four principles of responsible sports wagering:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social.
- Know the odds.
- Play with trusted, regulated operators.
The USFL joins campaign partners across the sports, media, and sports wagering landscape, including Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Delaware North, DraftKings, Entain, FanDuel, Global Payments, MGM Resorts International, MSG Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Rangers, NHL, Nuvei, Penn National Gaming, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Commanders.
The USFL inaugural kickoff game on April 16 begins at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CT) at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. The primetime matchup pits the New Jersey Generals against the Birmingham Stallions and will be presented live on FOX, NBC and Peacock. It is the first scheduled sports competition to air at the same time on two competitive networks since Super Bowl I broadcasted on NBC and CBS, January 15, 1967.
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NEW YORK – Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS) (“MSG Sports”) and Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: MSGE) (“MSG Entertainment”) announced today a partnership with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign to promote responsible gaming.
“With the continued growth of legal sports gaming throughout the tri-state area, it’s a priority for MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment to ensure that fans and viewers have access to educational resources on how to wager responsibly,” said Ron Skotarczak, Executive Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, Madison Square Garden Entertainment. “Providing a platform to amplify Have A Game Plan is essential to our strategy and supporting future growth in this industry.”
As part of the partnership, MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment will activate the campaign in-arena and through digital media with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers and on-air through MSG Network, including regular features on Odds with Ends, The Bettor Half Hour and The Betting Exchange.
“MSG is a fixture in the New York sports market, and we are proud to have them join Have A Game Plan,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “MSG’s unique activations further support our goal of convening the sports betting ecosystem around a common message to advance responsible gaming.”
AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign promotes four core principles of responsible sports betting: set a budget and stick to it, keep betting social, know the odds and play with trusted, regulated operators.
Fan and consumer education are critical as sports betting expands nationwide. Today, sports betting is legal in 32 states and the District of Columbia, with 31 jurisdictions already operational. 142 million American adults can now bet legally in their home market.
The AGA launched Have A Game Plan in late 2019 to educate sports fans on the principles of responsible sports betting. MSG Sports joins campaign partners across the sports betting landscape, including BetMGM, DraftKings, Entain, FanDuel, Global Payments, MGM Resorts International, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, New York Jets, NHL, Nuvei, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Football Team.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, SeventySix Capital became the newest partner of the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. SeventySix Capital, which invests in game-changing sports betting startups, will be the first investment company to join the initiative to promote responsible sports betting.
As part of its commitment, SeventySix Capital will activate the campaign through its social media channels, company podcasts, and newsletters. SeventySix Capital and the AGA will also discuss this new partnership on an episode of the SeventySix Capital Leadership Series, its weekly podcast, which will air on September 1st.
“SeventySix Capital shares the belief with the AGA that educating consumers on the basics of responsible sports betting is important to the longevity of the industry,” said Wayne Kimmel, SeventySix Capital’s managing partner. “We are proud to join forces with the AGA and other campaign partners as the first investment company partner in this effort. We will help promote Have A Game Plan, specifically with the entrepreneurs that are working to transform the sports betting industry.”
“We’re excited to partner with SeventySix Capital, whose innovative ideas and technologies reach widely across the sports betting landscape,” said Casey Clark, AGA senior vice president, strategic communications. “The success of the legal sports betting industry hinges on a shared commitment to responsibility—and as American access to the legal market continues to expand, educating consumers on the importance of responsible betting is critical. We’re proud to welcome SeventySix Capital to Have A Game Plan and are thankful for their commitment to keeping bettors safe and informed.”
The AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign focuses on the core principles of responsible sports betting: setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping betting social, knowing the odds, and playing with trusted, regulated operators.
Sports betting is now legal in 32 states and the District of Columbia, with 23 jurisdictions already operational.
The AGA launched Have A Game Plan in late 2019 to educate sports fans on the principles of responsible sports betting. SeventySix Capital joins official campaign partners DraftKings, FanDuel, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, the NHL, the PGA TOUR, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Vegas Golden Knights, the Washington Football Team, and UFC.
For more information, please visit https://haveagameplan.org .
BMM Testlabs
“The issues of leadership, sustainability, diversity, inclusion and investing in the local communities where each of our offices reside, remains incredibly important to BMM. Our ‘We Care’ culture has always enabled us to prioritize our people as well as our customers. As we continue to expand our business across the globe, we create policies and procedures to support our people and the environment around us.” – Martin Storm, CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Reducing resource consumption and waste
BMM Testlabs (BMM) seeks to create positive differences in its communities by beginning with simple yet effective steps to advance sustainability. BMM is reducing its reliance on natural resources by using less paper and plastic. BMM has gifted employees with branded reusable coffee tumblers and 40oz water flasks to reduce the use of plastic and Styrofoam, resulting in a large reduction in waste. The Company has also replaced light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs, placed sensor lighting in restrooms and is proud to be 100 percent paper-free in many of its most important functions.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Strengthening employee DEI
BMM recognizes that D&I contributes to its business success and is dedicated to encouraging supportive and inclusive environments for its people, partners and customers. BMM’s D&I initiatives include practices and policies on recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits programs, professional development, training and promotions.
BMM is currently in the final stages of implementing a new D&I Program. Its goals are to support and develop all individuals in the businesses, enable cultural development and participation, develop career paths and leadership opportunities, promote those who qualify and develop and improve a new ‘Staff Inclusion Satisfaction’ rating. This rating will be measurable by a survey conducted at the beginning of the program, and then conducted annually.
Investing in Communities
Expanding education and career opportunities
BMM’s Next Generation Initiative supports tribal youth and young adults through donations to charities advancing educational opportunity and improving public health.
In partnership with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), BMM has also established the BMM-AISES internship, a 10-week paid scholarship program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas which introduces students to careers in the gaming industry.
Addressing critical community needs
BMM partners with Anytown Las Vegas and various other charities and nonprofit organizations across BMM’s many global offices. BMM feels these kinds of partnerships work best when both organizations have the same vision to advance communities. BMM connected with Anytown Las Vegas because it held similar values and teams from both companies have built a strong rapport.
BMM is pleased to support Opportunity Village, a not-for-profit organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them.
Responsible Leadership
Training Employees
BMM saw the need to provide responsible gaming education across the industry and created RG24seven, a video-based responsible gaming training platform. BMM invested heavily in research, partnerships and technology to create this state-of-the-art training platform and content based around responsible gaming education.
RG24seven is now providing high-quality, low-cost compliance and responsible gaming education to the global gaming industry.
Delaware North
“In every community where we operate, Delaware North is committed to being good corporate citizens and impactful neighbors. We prioritize the health and wellbeing of our associates, guests, partners and the environment, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics.” – Lou Jacobs, CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Reducing Resource Consumption and Waste
GreenPath®, Delaware North’s stewardship program, ensures the Company carefully manages its environmental impact. GreenPath uses a formal process to plan, implement and measure meaningful progress. Going beyond compliance with applicable requirements, GreenPath priorities include natural resource protection, sustainable sourcing, zero waste, water conservation, energy efficiency, meeting LEED standards for facilities, renewable energy and reducing impacts from greenhouse gas emissions. The Company has a waste diversion program to promote a circular economy and reduce landfill impacts.
In responsible sourcing, Delaware North prefers products with credible certifications and eco-labels, both for food and operational supplies such as single-use products, cleaning chemicals, paper, equipment and others. Seafood is sourced from sustainable sources defined by programs such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Sustainable Fish Cities and U.S. operations source eggs from cage-free hens. The Company also encourages suppliers to source products that advance the sustainability and traceability of its supply chain and aligns with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) rating system to promote zero waste.
The Company is working to eliminate use of Styrofoam, is eliminating PFAS in its products, and has committed to source 100 percent of single-use packaging products in the U.S. from materials that are recyclable, renewable, compostable or contain post-consumer content by 2025. In 2018, the Company launched “The Last Straw” campaign to cut down on the estimated 38.1 million plastic drinking straws the Company uses each year.
Animal Welfare
Delaware North has a strong commitment to animal welfare as part of a more sustainable food supply. The Company supports humane practices throughout an animal’s lifecycle to promote health and welfare aligned with the Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s Five Freedoms. Animal welfare issues include confinement, physical alterations, the use of antibiotics and hormones, living conditions, transportation and processing.
Since July 2021, the Company’s U.S. operations source 90 percent of shell eggs and liquid eggs from cage-free hens. For broiler chickens, the Company has committed to meet the Global Animal Partnership’s standards in the U.S. and Canada by 2024. Compliance will be monitored by a third-party auditor. For pork, the Company is eliminating gestation crates from the supply chain and sourcing pork products from animals raised in group-housed systems; for veal, confinement crates are being eliminated from the supply chain.
Beyond this, the Company promotes the use of plant-based proteins and vegan and vegetarian items on its menus, including through its “Dirty Beets” brand.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Strengthening Employee DEI
Delaware North continues to evolve on its journey to nurture and advance efforts of inclusion, equity and belonging across a diverse workforce. The Company’s focus areas include:
- Sharing knowledge and raising cultural awareness and competence.
- Providing an open forum for the exchange of diverse ideas.
- Serving as a source of reciprocal mentoring and professional development opportunities.
- Disseminating best practices to attract, develop, engage, advance and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce.
- Fostering an inclusive culture where all employees are fully engaged and can contribute to their full potential.
- Growing reach beyond the Company’s scope and into each employee’s day-to-day commitments.
Delaware North developed its core values – Lean Forward, Come Together, Stand Up, Do Right and Think Guest as the foundation of how the Company behaves. To better bring these values to life, in early 2018, a first phase of Business Resource Groups (BRGs) were founded on the principle of being employee-driven, grassroots networks to support the Company’s objectives through networking and collaborating. The first four Business Resource Groups (BRGs) established were:
- Emerging Leaders
- Administrative Support Services Enrichment Team
- Women of Delaware North
- Innovators and Creative Problem Solvers
These groups are designed to foster networking both within the organization and the broader community. BRGs encourage career development and empower employees, encouraging personal and professional growth and a more diverse organization.
Investing in Communities
Addressing Critical Community Needs
Delaware North makes direct investments in health and safety, education and workforce readiness to improve its communities, including its community of associates, the communities across the globe where it operates, and its hometown community in Buffalo, N.Y.
Delaware North also invites its guests and associates to participate in charitable giving and recently launched the Game Changer program. Casino patrons can donate uncashed ticket vouchers, and associates can make donations to a fundraising campaign for organizations who positively impact the health of our local communities. Two recent examples of donations include Delaware North’s Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis, Ark., which donated $47,000 to The Children’s Advocacy Center of Eastern Arkansas (CACEA) in October 2021, and Wheeling Island Hotel- donated $5,402 to Madison Elementary School in September 2021.
Delaware North’s Gaming culinary teams use technology to monitor and eliminate food waste. In 2019, the Gaming division donated more than 22,000 pounds of food to community members in need.
Supporting Crittenden County, Arkansas
Delaware North, through its Southland Casino Racing operation in West Memphis, Ark., seeks to make high-impact contributions throughout Crittenden County, Ark. The county has a poverty level that is higher than the national average, and Delaware North recognizes that as one of the region’s largest businesses it has a responsibility to invest in the local community to help improve outcomes in identified priority areas.
Notable investments include a $1 million donation to ASU Mid-South, a public, two-year institution, to prepare students for careers in the hospitality industry through the Jeremy M. Jacobs Hospitality Program. Mid-South offers a low cost of tuition and schedule and curriculum that are accessible for students for whom a traditional four-year college is not a viable option.
Since the program began in 2013, 323 students have enrolled in courses. As of spring 2021, Mid-South has awarded 170 degrees/certificates through the program.
The Jacobs Program also established the Delta Cuisine Food Incubator and Shared Commercial Kitchen to assist local culinary entrepreneurs to test and launch small businesses. The program provides access to kitchen infrastructure and expert technical assistance at a significant cost savings to the entrepreneurs. By conducting regular check-ins with the leadership of ASU Mid-South, the Company learns about evolving needs and unexpected outcomes and adjusts its charitable strategy for the future.
Responsible Leadership
Investing in Research and Partnering with Advocacy Groups
Awareness and inclusion of responsible gaming practices is part of all Company marketing and communications planning across its digital and physical businesses. Delaware North is a sustaining supporter of the National Council on Problem Gambling and partner of the AGA’s Have a Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign.
Through a new joint venture digital gaming platform, Gamewise, Delaware North is working to develop quantifiable, responsible gaming risk profiles that frontline customer service employees can use to identify potential problem gaming behavior. This initiative is still in pre-launch status and will be leveraged to uphold Delaware North’s commitment to responsible gaming.
Speaker: Eric Louderback, PhD, Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School
A panel of researchers with experience in RG research, will address what needs to be done for the field to advance. Topics include:
- Do we have a validated measure of “safe gambling”?
- What should operators know before allowing researchers to access their data?
Panel: Jeremiah Weinstock, PhD, Saint Louis University
Michael Wohl, PhD, Carleton University
Heather Gray, PhD, Harvard Medical School
David Hodgins, PhD, University of Calgary