Christmas came early for the US-based International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). On Dec. 21, MGM Resorts International announced a $360,000 gift to fund critical responsible gambling (RG) research.
The substantial donation will support two research projects over two years intended to better “understand, prevent, and address potential risks associated with gambling.”
In the release, Stephen Martino, MGM’s senior vice president and chief compliance officer, said the company continues to support the ICRG’s important work.
These research projects are critical to the continued success of the industry and are in the best interest of our guests, company, employees, and the communities where we operate. We’re pleased to continue our financial support of the ICRG and its critical work around responsible gaming best practices.
ICRG Only US-Based RG Funding Source
Since the ICRG came to be in 1996, the organization has established itself as a significant funding source for responsible and problem gambling (PG) research.
Notably, the ICRG is the US’ only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling.
Thanks to that funding, numerous studies have appeared in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
This latest contribution from MGM (MGM Resorts International 31,42 -3,41%) will fund research designed to educate treatment providers, researchers, operators, advocates, regulators, and public policy makers around RG/PG.
Arthur Paikowsky, ICRG president, praised MGM for its long-standing support.
We salute MGM Resorts for supporting our research that will answer the many questions we have about the impact of gender on gambling disorder and address the health risks of casino employees. The ICRG is very grateful for the company’s long-standing and continuing support of the ICRG.
The donation follows MGM’s commitment to better educate and train over 60,000 employees on gambling risks. Additionally, the company promotes “positive, transparent, and proactive” communication with players through its responsible gambling program, GameSense.
Developed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the RG tool has been licensed by MGM since 2017. Importantly, the ICRG will share the results of its newly funded studies with other GameSense licensees and others who could benefit from the findings.
Protecting Vulnerable Players Is Critical
As online casinos and sportsbooks further expand across the US, the ICRG aims to protect those at risk.
As it stands, BetMGM, MGM’s mobile and desktop gaming partnership with Entain, is currently available in 28 US markets. And that’s just the one operator.
From the release:
As mobile sports betting and iGaming continue to expand rapidly across the country, the ICRG is focused on collaborating with key operators, such as MGM Resorts, to bring a focused approach to research and education aimed at protecting vulnerable populations.
The partnership and collaboration includes the American Gaming Association (AGA). Both MGM Resorts and BetMGM partner with the AGA’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly public service campaign. The effort educates new and experienced bettors on betting on sports responsibly.
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