The American Gaming Association (AGA) claims, in a new study, that nine out 10 gamblers who visit US casinos play responsibly. The AGA, a leading gaming industry lobby group from Washington DC, says the findings come from two separate polls conducted last year.
The Mellman Group, a research organization, surveyed 1,000 registered voters. They asked them about their attitude towards gaming. While another group – BrandOutlook – asked 2,014 gamblers on their playing habits.
American Gaming Association Looks at Gamblers’ Practices
Looking at AGA’s findings, 90 percent of casual gamblers set a budget before placing bets. Also, American bettors seems to be good at sticking to their limits. There’s also a high number of people who are aware of responsible gaming programs and resources – 80 percent of casual players and 90 percent of regular players know of one.
The CEO of AGA, Bill Miller, said they found the results encouraging. “Responsible gaming is our industry’s top priority. This research indicates that our unwavering commitment to responsibility is resonating with our customers,” he said.
Furthermore, six out of 10 Americans believe casinos are good for their local economies, 88 percent consider gambling a legitimate form of entertainment, and 80 percent believes that the casino industry helps create jobs.
Gambling Addiction Still a Problem
The American Gaming Association’s CEO admits that working to fight gambling addiction can never be done. Of the total population of the USA, one percent, or two million adults, are pathological gamblers. These figures come from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Furthermore, four to six million – two to three percent of US adults – are considered problem gamblers.
The difference between the two is that pathological gamblers meet only one or more of the criteria that make a problem gambler.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing problems with gambling, get in touch with the NCPG.
