Washington – The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023, honoring four leaders for their significant contributions to the industry:
- Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
- Robert Miodunski, Former CEO, American Gaming Systems; Former President & CEO, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming
- Jim Murren, Former Chairman and CEO, MGM Resorts International
- Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts
“This year’s Gaming Hall of Fame class enshrines industry leaders that have positively transformed businesses and communities through their contributions to gaming,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “From leading casino and supplier operations to advancing industry regulation and tribal gaming, Bill, Ellen, Jim and Robert’s far-reaching impacts on gaming are indelible—and undoubtedly worthy of inclusion in the Hall of Fame.”
Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has recognized gaming legends, pioneers and business leaders for their lasting impacts on the industry. The Class of 2023 will be honored during an invitation-only induction ceremony at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this October.
“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors the diverse ways gaming leaders elevate our industry,” said AGA Chairman of the Board & Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. “This year’s class epitomizes this principle, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at G2E 2023.”
Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee members include:
- Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, International Gaming Institute, UNLV
- Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International and CEO, Seminole Gaming
- Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, International Association of Gaming Advisors
- John Connelly, CEO, Interblock
- Brian Hansberry, President, Gaming, Delaware North
- Bill Lance, Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
- Mark Lipparelli, Chairman, International Center for Responsible Gaming
- Cassie Stratford, SVP, Legal Operations & Compliance, Boyd Gaming; President and Chair, Global Gaming Women
- Howard Stutz, Senior Reporter, The Nevada Independent
Additional information about each inductee’s accomplishments is below, and headshots can be downloaded for editorial use here.
Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
Anoatubby has served as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. Early in his tenure, Anoatubby recognized the important role gaming could play in advancing sustainable economic development and self-determination for the tribe. Since 1987, gaming operations have helped drive the number of Chickasaw Nation employees from 250 to more than 14,000, expanding tribal assets two-hundredfold. As Governor, Anoatubby oversees the tribe’s operation of more than 100 diversified businesses—including 24 tribal gaming locations—generating funding for 200-plus programs and services that benefit education, healthcare, housing and more for Chickasaw families, Oklahomans and their communities. Anoatubby also played an integral role establishing the Indian Gaming Association and Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, as well as negotiating the 2004 Oklahoma gaming compact which solidified the future of tribal gaming in the state. Under Governor Anoatubby’s direction, the Chickasaw Nation also places a strong emphasis on preserving and sharing its heritage, history, language and culture.
Robert Miodunski, Former CEO, American Gaming Systems; Former President & CEO, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming
As President of United Coin Machine Co. (a division of publicly traded Alliance Gaming Corp.) from 1994-99, Miodunski built the nation’s largest gaming route operation, totaling more than 8,000 gaming devices. He also led the development and launch of Gamblers Bonus, the first patented cardless player tracking and bonusing system for route operation in Nevada. Promoted to President and CEO of Alliance Gaming and President of Bally Gaming in 1999, he led a team that resurrected the venerable Bally brand to its place as one of the global gaming industry’s top casino suppliers, eventually transforming into Bally Technologies. Miodunski retired in 2004, then returned to the industry in 2010 to head American Gaming Systems (AGS) as CEO, expanding the company’s footprint in Class II and Class III gaming before AGS was acquired by a private equity firm in 2014. Most recently, Miodunski served as a board member of Golden Entertainment from 2015 to 2021.
Jim Murren, Former Chairman and CEO, MGM Resorts International
Murren is the former Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, serving in the role from 2008 to 2020. During his time leading MGM Resorts, Murren guided the company through the wake of the Great Recession, overhauled the company’s healthcare policy to better serve employees, led technological innovation in gaming, and drove increased tourism to Las Vegas. Following his tenure at MGM Resorts, Murren headed Nevada’s COVID-19 Response, Relief, and Recovery Task Force as its gubernatorially appointed chairman, working closely with local government leaders and the private sector to secure personal protective equipment, establish a robust statewide testing system, and ensure Nevada students were provided with the resources to learn remotely. Murren has also been an integral figure in bringing professional sports to Las Vegas, leading the construction of T-Mobile Arena, becoming a founding partner of the Vegas Golden Knights, organizing the purchase and relocation of the Las Vegas Aces, and more. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts
Whittemore serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Wynn Resorts. In her role, she leads the company’s global legal affairs as well as the entirety of its philanthropic, community relations and government affairs activities. She has been instrumental in Wynn Resorts’ efforts to enhance its workplace culture as well as its corporate ethics and governance, and was integral in crafting the company’s global response to the pandemic. Whittemore is also a member of the board of directors of Wynn Macau, Limited. Her legal career spans more than 30 years in gaming and hospitality, during which she has represented many of the industry’s largest companies in noteworthy regulatory matters. Before her career in private and corporate practice, Whittemore served in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Gaming Division, where she authored several Nevada Gaming Commission regulations that remain in place today. Whittemore has long been an active community and industry leader and is the current Chair of the Nevada Resort Association and the former President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. –New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA), reveals a significant increase in responsible gaming (RG) investments from gaming industry companies, with total spending reaching $471.8 million annually—up from approximately $275 million (+72%) in 2017.
Conducted by a major international accounting firm, the research demonstrates a surge in industry-wide RG spending that has grown at a faster rate than gaming revenue over the past seven years. Several key program areas are seeing significant spending commitments as the industry expands, including:
- Customer Service Interactions: $135.4 million.
- Developing and Maintaining Responsible Gaming Programs: $122.4 million.
- Consumer-Facing Responible Gaming Education: $107.7 million.
- Responsible Gaming Research and Other Non-Profit RG Organizations: $31.8 million.
- Problem Gambling Supportive Services: $26.1 million.
“This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment,” said Joe Maloney, AGA Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications. “Beyond the considerable taxes gaming companies contribute to fund responsible gaming and problem gambling resources, the industry also proactively invests hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge and safeguards to play responsibly.”
The new AGA research comes during Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2024, during which industry stakeholders have demonstrated their commitments to responsible gaming through an array of activations and announcements. Earlier this September, the AGA released a first-of-its-kind Responsible Gaming Intervention Effectiveness Scale to provide academics, industry members and more with a research-based tool to evaluate responsible gaming messages.
“Our industry’s commitment to responsibility once again made RGEM a resounding success,” continued Maloney. “We look forward to seeing the work done throughout this past month provide a springboard for continued advancements in responsible gaming in the months and years to come.”
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Methodology
The study was conducted by a major international accounting firm from July-September 2024. The results are based on a survey of AGA members representing the breadth of the casino gaming sector including casino operators, gaming equipment suppliers and iGaming and/or sportsbook operators. Data collected from the sample of survey respondents was extrapolated into an industry-wide estimate based on reported revenues for the fiscal/calendar year 2023.
The American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Board of Directors today named Bill Miller as the trade association’s next president and chief executive officer, effective January 14, 2019, following a comprehensive search and selection process.
During his tenure as senior vice president at the Business Roundtable (BRT), Miller helped grow the organization’s brand and advocacy footprint in Washington, leading the association’s outreach to Capitol Hill and the Administration.
“I am honored to join a team with a well-earned reputation for advancing the casino gaming industry’s legislative and communications priorities and addressing the issues that matter most to its members,” said Miller. “Much to the AGA’s credit, this is a remarkable time for gaming in America. The industry is growing, acceptance of gaming as mainstream entertainment has never been higher and the opportunities to continue to advance gaming’s agenda are abundant. I am eager to help lead the industry in this next era.”
A broad, seven-member search committee was formed in June, led by Tim Wilmott, CEO of Penn National Gaming and Chairman of the AGA Board of Directors.
“Bill’s extensive work with federal policymakers and as a seasoned leader of membership and industry advocacy organizations was critical to our decision,” said Wilmott. “He joins a successful organization at a time when our industry is enjoying great momentum, thanks in part to a major policy achievement – the ending of the federal sports betting prohibition. On behalf of the AGA Board, I am excited to welcome Bill to the team.
“The Board is extremely thankful for the leadership of Stacy Papadopoulos and Sara Slane, and the commitment of the entire AGA team during this period of transition,” continued Wilmott.
With senior level experience at leading business groups and trade associations including BRT and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Miller joins the AGA at a time when the gaming industry is growing both in size and popularity. The May 2018 Supreme Court ruling overturning the federal ban on sports betting was a landmark policy achievement for the industry. Revenue grew in twenty states with commercial casinos in 2017 and the commercial gaming industry as a whole brought in $40.3 billion in gaming revenue, while tribal casinos tallied $32.4 billion in total gaming revenue.
BOSTON & WASHINGTON – DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) today announced the company will collaborate with the American Gaming Association (AGA) to promote the AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. DraftKings has committed to apply the campaign to many of the company’s owned channels, including at DraftKings’ retail gaming properties, to promote safer play. This collaboration marks the first time in the industry that the Have A Game Plan campaign will be comprehensively rolled out across a national retail sportsbook footprint. The campaign will appear in all ten DraftKings retail sportsbooks across the country.
“We are excited to join forces with the American Gaming Association to promote their forward-thinking public service campaign, Have A Game Plan,” said Christine Thurmond, DraftKings’ director of responsible gaming. “Customer safety is paramount, and we are confident that implementing Have A Game Plan alongside our own responsible gaming messaging and tools will enable us to increase customer exposure to responsible gaming practices and ultimately foster safer play.”
Through Have a Game Plan, the AGA and its partners educate consumers on the basics of responsible sports betting while increasing awareness of problem gambling. DraftKings will roll out campaign signage, including physical and electronic posters, at its retail properties, with the goal of teaching patrons about the signs of problem gambling and behaviors and practices that align with responsible sports betting. DraftKings operates retail sportsbooks in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and New York.
“Responsibility is a fundamental priority for the American gaming industry,” said Casey Clark, AGA senior vice president of strategic communications. “With more than 100 million American adults now able to legally bet on sports nationwide, it is critical to educate consumers about how to safely and responsibly bet on the sports they love – and bringing the Have a Game Plan campaign to DraftKings’ extensive network of sportsbooks and customers is a great way to do just that. We are thankful for their significant commitment to keeping bettors safe and educated about responsible gaming.”
Outside of the retail sportsbooks, DraftKings will incorporate Have A Game Plan into its owned channels, including digital marketing and social media, and alongside its existing responsible gaming framework, It’s More Fun When It’s For Fun. The company uses these channels to inculcate responsible gaming behaviors in customers, including upon their first deposit into the mobile sportsbook, and regularly thereafter. In addition to the Have A Game Plan campaign, DraftKings will use It’s More Fun When It’s For Fun to promote responsible betting through social media, with ongoing content released from the DraftKings Sportsbook account to highlight player protection information and tools.
DraftKings’ responsible gaming mission is to mitigate harm and protect vulnerable populations using groundbreaking technology, providing training and resources for employees and consumers, and by supporting evidence-based research. DraftKings and the AGA are contributors to the International Center for Responsible Gaming’s Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering. DraftKings tailors its products across sports wagering and iGaming to provide customers with responsible gaming tools, resources, and services they need to play responsibly. These practices include limit setting, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion.
Have A Game Plan has wide support throughout the sports betting ecosystem. DraftKings joins several of its sports league collaborators which have already joined the initiative, including UFC, NASCAR, and the PGA TOUR.
To learn more about DraftKings’ commitment to responsible gaming and to advancing social innovation around the world, please visit DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S.
Sands
“These values represent our founder’s legacy and our Company’s future. My pledge is to carry our ESG commitment forward and aim to exceed the expectations of our stakeholders.” – Robert Goldstein, Chairman and CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Sands has undertaken a multi-pronged approach to addressing energy, climate change, water and waste as key initiatives for the award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program.
Lowering Carbon Emissions
In 2020, Sands exceeded its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target one year ahead of schedule, achieving 38.4 percent and 92.0 percent reductions for resort and ferry operations respectively. Additionally, all properties increased their purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) to provide more emission-free electricity. The Company’s science-based carbon reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement, and overall reporting of energy and climate change initiatives are guided by the Task Force of Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Sands’ latest science-based target, approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17.5 percent by 2025.
Reducing Resource Consumption & Waste
Beyond the use of RECs, the Company’s energy strategy focuses on reducing resource consumption through on-site energy generation and employment of energy efficient technologies. Initiatives such as the installation of solar panels on property structures and incorporating sustainable energy alternatives has made Sands a leader in environmentally responsible business operations. For example, 91 percent of light bulbs used at Sands resorts in 2020 were LED.
In the area of water conservation, Sands created the innovative Drop by Drop Project with Clean the World to invest funding from the Company’s internal water savings into water initiatives in its local communities.
Reducing waste in all facets of the business is also a key priority for Sands. Highlights include implementing a comprehensive food waste reduction strategy, including the use of artificial intelligence to address food overproduction; creation of innovative recycling programs such as the first resort-based PPE recycling program; and continued focus on eliminating, replacing, re-using and recycling single-use plastics.
Sands ECO360
The Sands ECO360 global sustainability program drives Sands’ environmental strategy through three initiatives: green buildings, responsible operations and green meetings and events. The program works to minimize Sands’ environmental impact and uphold its responsibility to the planet.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Enhancing DEI Strategy
In 2020, Sands introduced a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Charter, updated its diversity statements in board guidelines and increased transparency in DEI reporting through the Company’s ESG report. These accomplishments established a firm foundation to guide the Company’s next phase of initiatives in this area.
Accelerating DEI Engagement
From implementing a mentorship program for team members from diverse backgrounds to analyzing procurement spend and setting new targets for supplier diversity, Sands introduced new avenues to accelerate its DEI focus.
Addressing Social Justice Issues
In June 2020, Sands held a series of town hall sessions to provide open discussion on racial justice events, followed by a survey and focus groups to ensure the DEI issues most important to team members were being addressed. Strengthening external commitments to removing systemic barriers to advancement is also a Sands priority, recently providing $400,000 in new Sands Cares funding for nonprofits serving diverse groups.
Sands has invested in several DEI community partners this year, including a $163,000 contribution to The LGBTQ Center to help expand their clinic and a $75,000 donation to help the Asian Community Development Council establish an in-language client success advocacy program.
Investing in Communities
Spurring Economic Development
Sands’ presence around the globe brings a variety of economic benefits to its host communities. Cumulative global development investment in its regions is more than $23 billion, with an annual procurement spend of $2.7 billion and creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs annually. Most importantly, the Company is committed to keeping communities strong by being a catalyst for local business opportunity, investing in educational programs to support a thriving local workforce and helping solve its communities’ most pressing challenges.
Delivering in Times of Crisis
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sands has provided $3.1 million in financial aid, 167,289 pounds of food to relief organizations and more than 3.1 million pieces of PPE, as well as COVID test kits, to medical personnel, schools and first responders.
Expanding Educational Opportunities
At the higher education level, Sands’ support includes partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on the Sands Center for Professional Development, grants for students at the Singapore Institute of Technology and funding for hospitality programs at Macao universities. At the K-12 level, Sands created an innovative Sands Cares partnership with educational nonprofit Nevada Succeeds to connect Nevada educators with the high-performance practices of the world-renowned Singapore educational system. Sands also partners with a variety of organizations on mentorship and other support programs to aid underserved students.
Addressing Critical Community Needs
Around the globe, the Sands Cares community engagement program works to address social issues and support vulnerable populations. The Sands Cares accelerator program provides guidance, mentorship and financial investment for nonprofits. In the U.S., Sands Cares spearheads the Company’s role as one of the Las Vegas region’s most prominent advocates for action on the homelessness crisis. Sands and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth co-founded the Movement to End Youth Homelessness and the Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit. Sands Cares has partnered with Clean the World to establish a mobile shower unit, which has provided more than 23,000 showers and 28,500 hygiene kits, along with a range of services and resources, to aid homeless and at-risk populations since its inception in 2017.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting & Empowering Consumers
Sands Project Protect safeguards guests and team members by establishing lasting solutions to promote responsible gaming practices, prevent financial crimes and provide countertrafficking measures. Sands’ goal is to lead the industry in executing policies and procedures that not only meet but also exceed government regulations in these areas.
Rigorous Standards and Training
Las Vegas Sands prides itself in having one of the most educated workforces in the industry when it comes to responsible gaming. All Sands team members undergo annual responsible gaming training. One of the Company’s industry-leading initiatives is its Responsible Gaming Ambassador Program, in which ambassadors are trained to direct guests that ask for help or appear to need help to responsible gaming resources. Ambassadors are stationed on casino floors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Partnering in Research and Advocacy
In its communities around the world, Sands maintains a strong partnership with local problem gambling and recovery organizations to guide its efforts and ensure the Company remains on the forefront of responsible gaming practices. Sands is also the largest contributor to the International Center for Responsible Gaming.
Responsible Gaming & COVID-19
As resorts welcomed back guests after pandemic shutdowns, Sands took additional measures to monitor for increases in gambling behavior stemming from pandemic-related financial stress and personal hardship. Sands implemented additional prevention protocols, undertook pandemic-specific awareness and training activities to educate team members and made new self-limit forms available to guests.
Amplifying its awareness efforts, Sands addressed the intersection of COVID-19 and responsible gaming in its programming for the AGA’s Responsible Gaming Education Week and Responsible Gaming Ambassador training at properties worldwide.
As legal gaming expands in the U.S., consumers continue to report high levels of responsible gaming engagement, according to survey data from the American Gaming Association. More than eight in 10 (84) of past-year gamblers aware of at least one responsible gaming resource, including 91 percent of sports bettors.
Past-year gamblers also report high confidence in the effectiveness of responsible gaming tools, policies and initiatives. Three-quarters or more of players consider the following measures effective ways to encourage responsible play:
- Deposit Limits (85%)
- Time Limits (78%)
- Wager Limits (77%)
- Employee Training (77%)
- Industry Code of Conduct (75%)
“Our industry’s success is based on earning customer trust, providing safeguards for responsible gaming, and implementing tools that our customers engage to bet responsibly. Today’s data shows our united effort to elevate responsible gaming is clearly resonating with players and shaping a safer gaming landscape.” - AGA Vice President, Responsibility Cait DeBaun
Importantly, as legal sports betting grows in new and existing markets, the survey underscores the value of advertising in driving responsible gaming awareness. More than half (53%)of sports bettors report seeing an increase in responsible gaming messaging over the past year.
Methodology
YouGov, on behalf of the AGA, conducted an online survey from August 3-10, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of 2,018 Americans aged 21 and over. The margin of error is +/- 2 percent and greater among subgroups.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Penn National Gaming (Nasdaq: PENN) (“Penn National” or the “Company”), the largest regional casino operator in the United States, is the latest gaming operator to join the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly™ public service campaign.
Penn National, which currently offers legal sports betting in 13 states, will promote Have A Game Plan responsible sports betting content on its Barstool Sportsbook digital platforms and social media accounts. The Company will also activate Have A Game Plan in all of Penn National’s brick-and-mortar sportsbook locations.
“Responsible gaming is core to our sports betting operations, and we’re thrilled to extend these efforts through our partnership with the AGA’s Have A Game Plan initiative,” said Jon Kaplowitz, Penn National’s Head of Interactive. “Our customers are sports fans first, and this campaign will allow us to educate everyone, whether they are new to sports betting or seasoned bettors, on how to wager responsibly in a fan-friendly way.”
Launched in late 2019, AGA established Have A Game Plan to teach consumers the fundamentals of responsible sports betting as legal wagering options expand across the U.S. The initiative focuses on four key tenets of responsible gaming: setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping betting social, knowing the odds, and playing with trusted, regulated operators.
“Penn National’s expansive digital and land-based footprint will amplify our Have A Game Plan campaign to consumers across the country,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “We are appreciative of Penn National’s significant commitment to the campaign as we collectively work to ensure every sports bettor is equipped with the knowledge to wager responsibly.”
Penn National joins 20 partners and counting in the AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign, which spans sports leagues, teams, media companies and other gaming companies. For more information, please visit HaveAGamePlan.org.
Promoting responsible gaming is a core value and commitment for Penn National and its properties across the country. The Company uses a variety of approaches to promote responsible gaming, including but not limited to team member responsible gaming training programs and an “Exclude One, Exclude All” policy, whereby any self-excluded person is banned across all Penn National properties and on its digital platforms. In addition, the Company uses specific responsible gaming social media handles to educate the public on responsible gaming, offers responsible gaming limits in all jurisdictions where Penn National offers online gaming, and maintains ongoing monitoring and reviews to gauge the effectiveness of these programs.
For more information about the Company’s commitment to responsible gaming, please visit Penn National’s Responsible Gaming Commitment website.
To commemorate the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), the American Gaming Association (AGA) today activated the enforcement process associated with its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. The self-regulated, industry-wide program will be overseen by a Code Compliance Review Board, consisting of two independent co-chairs and five AGA member representatives:
- Joe Bertolone, Executive Director, UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation (co-chair)
- Becky Harris, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute (co-chair)
- Laura McAllister Cox, Vice President of Regulatory Compliance & Legal Counsel, Rush Street Gaming
- Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International
- Sharon Otterman, Chief Marketing Officer, William Hill
- Paul Pellizzari, Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock
- Chris Soriano, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Penn National Gaming
The Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering includes self-imposed restrictions on target audiences, outlets, and materials branding, while mandating responsible gaming inclusion. The tenets of the code apply to traditional and digital media marketing activity for AGA members and non-members. Through the process launched today, industry stakeholders and consumers can flag perceived non-compliance with the code via AmericanGaming.org.
“Responsible Gaming Education Week provides a perfect opportunity to launch this important initiative, holding everyone accountable to a standard set by responsible operators,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “By adhering to this code, U.S. sports betting operators are putting consumers first, and I’m thankful to the distinguished industry representatives on the compliance review board who will help raise the bar for the marketing of sports betting activity in the United States.”
AGA’s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering supplements individual companies’ existing responsible marketing activities and those adhered to by all AGA members through the Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct, which includes limitations on frequency of advertisements.
Held annually, RGEW (Sept. 13-19, 2020) provides an opportunity to showcase the industry’s year-round commitment to responsible gaming by refreshing employee training, promoting gaming literacy to customers, and working with community partners on advancing RG initiatives. This year, the AGA is highlighting Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly., its public service campaign to educate new and seasoned sports bettors on responsible sports betting amidst the rapid expansion of legal sports betting.
IGT
“The values that we have built up over time are well established and will continue to be a foundation of our Company.” – Marco Sala, CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
IGT strives to continually improve its environmental management systems and lower its impact.
IGT’s Lakeland, Florida facility maintains an emissions-reduction program for its printing presses. In 2020, the facility reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds by nine percent over the previous year.
The Company’s North America Hubs initiative reduced emissions related to returns of electronic gaming machines from casinos through logistics improvements and regional consolidation hubs.
The MySelf project, which provides remote troubleshooting for point-of-sale gaming terminals without field intervention, resulted in reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulate matter. With 101,072 planned interventions, 86,259 were completed in the field in 2020.
Reducing Resource Consumption & Waste
The reduction of energy consumption is one of IGT’s environmental strategy priorities. The Company’s industrial sites employ ISO 140001 Environmental Management Systems designed to continually improve energy efficiency.
On behalf of the Hoosier Lottery, IGT offers digital pay slips and has supported first-of-its-kind research into the environmental impacts of scratch-off lottery tickets.
IGT’s Lakeland, Florida facility was recognized as the Sustainability Program winner in the 2021 FTA Sustainability Excellence Awards for its waste reclamation program.
Disclosure
IGT’s disclosure efforts have been recognized by several of the most reputable ESG analysts and rating institutions, including the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, the Carbon Disclosure Project, EcoVadis, Financial Times Stock Exchange, Sustainalytics and Morgan Stanley Capital Investment, the world’s largest ESG rating and research provider.
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
IGT has selected nine sustainable developmental goals from the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development based on its business activities and sustainability priorities and is identifying specific targets and initiatives aimed at making progress toward these goals. IGT has also joined the world’s largest corporate responsibility initiative, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which calls on companies to align their business practices with principles in the areas of human rights, the environment, anti-corruption and labor.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Strengthening Employee DEI
At IGT, employee networks centered around underrepresented dimensions of diversity, called Diversity and Inclusion Groups (DIGS), provide employees throughout the Company with opportunities for career development, networking and professional engagement. Advancing Cultural Education (ACE) at IGT is devoted to the advancement of people of African descent in the gaming industry.
In 2019, the All-In Diversity Project recognized IGT as one of the highest-ranking participants in its annual benchmarking of inclusion.
Supply Chain Responsibility
IGT’s Supplier Code of Conduct requires that all suppliers and vendors adhere to environmental, social and corporate governance standards.
IGT also works with many suppliers classified as diverse suppliers and businesses majority-owned by women, people of color, LGBTQ persons, veterans or persons with disabilities.
Suppliers are also screened for compliance with human rights and environmental practices. Major OEM (original equipment manufacturers) suppliers are subject to periodic visits to ensure compliance with social and environmental responsibility principles.
Along with a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery anywhere in the supply chain, IGT also requests that suppliers adopt conflict mineral policies.
Investing in Communities
Expanding Education & Career Opportunities
After School Advantage (ASA), IGT’s flagship giving program, provides students around the world access to digital learning centers and technology to promote STEM education opportunities. In 2020, IGT opened 15 new ASA learning centers.
Addressing Critical Community Needs
Composed of more than 160 employees throughout the world, IGT’s Community Ambassador program allows employees to organize local community engagement and connections with local organizations. The Matching Gifts, Day Off for Volunteerism, and Dollars for Doers programs support IGT employees’ community support efforts. IGT is also a long-time supporter of Children’s Cabinet, a social support agency providing critical family services in Nevada.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting & Empowering Consumers
Responsible gaming tools are incorporated into all IGT products and services. IGT sponsors the National Council on Problem Gambling’s annual conference. IGT’s advertising and marketing complies with AGA’s Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct. IGT also supports the AGA’s Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW). In 2020, IGT created an internal campaign to test employee knowledge of responsible gaming and an external social media campaign mirroring AGA’s RGEW campaign.
IGT-operated lotteries in the U.S. received Level 4 in Responsible Gaming Certification from the World Lottery Association and is a Premium Partner of the European Lotteries.
Establishing & Following Rigorous Business Standards
IGT was the first gaming vendor in the world to receive G4’s responsible gaming accreditation, which it renewed again in 2020. G4 accreditation requires employee training, dedicated responsible gaming policies and a commitment to research. IGT also advises gaming organizations throughout the world on best practices for responsible gaming.
Training Employees
IGT-designed training courses provide employees at all levels with role-specific training. All newly hired employees receive responsible gaming general awareness training and all employees renew their responsible gaming training every three years.
IGT was the first gaming Company to implement the Game Awareness in Player Protection training, which helps game designers understand the relationship between game mechanics and responsible gaming.
IGT collaborates with stakeholders, including researchers, to review trainings such as its B2C contact center training, which provides role-specific responsible gaming training to employees that have regular contact with players.
DraftKings
“Throughout our journey to becoming a leader in digital sports entertainment, our business decisions have been guided by our commitment to our customers, our employees and the local communities around the world in which we operate. Cybersecurity, sustainability, compliance, responsible gaming, the health of our employees and the betterment of our communities are intrinsic to the continued success of our business and the value we deliver for our shareholders.” – Jason Robins, CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
DraftKings relies on cloud computing for many of its activities, which according to one estimate offers an 88 percent reduction in carbon emissions related to consumed electricity than other data storage options. Further, the Company has a clean-tech data center supplier that is committed to achieving 100 percent renewable energy usage for its global infrastructure by 2030, and the power mix from our cloud computing activities is 28 percent less carbon-intense than the global average. DraftKings remains committed to further reduction.
Another way DraftKings is committed to environmental sustainability is through funding the planting of 1 million trees by Earth Day 2022 in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and Special Board Advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors for ESG initiatives Gisele Bundchen. The trees will be planted in 15 U.S. states and nine additional countries, helping to clean water, purify air, sequester carbon and promote ecosystem resilience and poverty alleviation. Through these efforts, more than 780,000 metric tons of carbon will be sequestered, more than 5,000 tons of air pollution will be avoided, and more than 750 million gallons of water runoff will be avoided.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Strengthening Employee DEI
DraftKings is committed to inclusive and responsible pathways for its employees. DraftKings has a passion for encouraging diversity within its workforce and the broader sports-tech entertainment industry, with a balanced and diversified workforce that promotes an environment of belonging and acceptance.
In 2021, DraftKings was proud to be included among the top 10 on Boston Globe’s inaugural Top Places to Work: Diversity and Inclusion List. Most recently, DraftKings has been recognized on a national level for its DE&I practices, receiving a cultural excellence award for the 2021 Top Workplaces.
Investing in Communities
Delivering in Times of Crisis
DraftKings prioritizes investments in communities in need, using its platform as a catalyst for raising funds and awareness. Particular efforts include raising funds for breast cancer research.
DraftKings’ engages its players in supporting critical causes through charity contests. Proceeds have supported Feeding Texas and Feeding Louisiana’s efforts to aid people impacted by natural disasters in local communities.
Addressing Critical Community Needs
DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. (Service, Equity, Responsibility, Vitality, Entrepreneurship, Sports)
is a catalyst to facilitate meaningful relationships between our employees and customers and the communities and causes about which they feel passion.
Expanding education and career development opportunities
Giving back to veterans is an important part of S.E.R.V.E.S. Tech for Heroes (TfH), that provides current and returning veterans and military spouses with free, comprehensive, high-tech job skills training. Since June 2018, TfH has trained nearly 500 active duty, veterans or military spouses, and more than 63 percent of participants are from diverse groups.
Beyond this, DraftKings works with American Corporate Partners (ACP) in their mission to end veteran underemployment. Through the ACP mentorship program, DraftKings employees are matched 1:1 with veterans across the country to help with career navigation, interview skills and networking.
Cambridge Health Alliance
In June 2021, DraftKings announced its strategic consulting agreement with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, to advance responsible gaming training for employees.
In coordination with the DraftKings Responsible Gaming team, the Division is creating an innovative, systems-based safer play approach to training employees across the business in responsible gaming. Training includes a logic model, conceptual map, needs assessment schedule and evaluation plan. Systems-based safer play describes a method that includes approaches to training, business practices and player resources that recognize and respond to the larger context of the gaming environment and its interacting elements.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting and Empowering Customers
DraftKings’ focus in responsible gaming is to leverage technology, employee training, evidence-based research and education to protect consumers. The Company tailors its sports betting and iGaming products to provide customers with responsible gaming tools, resources and services they need to play responsibly. These practices include limit setting, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion from offerings.
The Company trains all employees in responsible gaming annually and at the start of employment.
Broadly, the Company uses its digital marketing channels, including email and social media, to regularly educate and remind customers of responsible gaming behaviors and displays responsible gaming messages at team venues.
Investing in Research and Partnering with Advocacy Groups
DraftKings is a funder of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). As a result of DraftKings’ contribution to the Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering, the ICRG was able to proceed with a competitive request for applications from researchers around the world who are interested in pursuing groundbreaking research on problem gaming.
DraftKings also contributed to the Kindbridge Research Institute to support a new research program studying the nexus of veterans and responsible gaming, with the ultimate goal of advancing evidence-based research in problem gaming and improving the lives of impacted veterans.
In 2022, DraftKings launched its State Council Funding Program, a new responsible gaming initiative offering each state problem gambling council $15,000 per year for three years and representing an overall commitment of $1.5+ million. Thirty-five states have a state problem gambling council, all of which are affiliates of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
DraftKings is also committed to the AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® public service campaign, rolling out the campaign in DraftKings retail sportsbooks and integrating it into in-stadium and TV content.