In 2023, the US gaming industry spent more on responsible gaming initiatives than it had ever spent in a single year. That’s the main takeaway from a recent study published by the American Gaming Association (AGA). According to the AGA’s research, the US-facing gaming industry spent a mind-blowing $471.8 million in 2023 in its efforts to thwart problem gambling while promoting responsible play.
The study, which was conducted by a major international accounting firm shows that the growth of regulated gambling in the US has had a paralell growth spurt in responsible gambling efforts. Researchers found that the gaming industry’s annual spending on these kinds of initiatives was up 72 percent from the $275 million that was spent in 2017.
Joe Maloney, AGA Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications commented on the growth of responsible gaming initiatives in a recent press release saying, “This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment. 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 importance of responsible gaming is so important to operators that they will continue supporting these initiatives over time. “Our industry’s commitment to responsibility once again made RGEM a resounding success. 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,” Maloney concluded.