Gambling Isn’t Bad If Done Responsibly, Says Leading US Trade Group

With an NFL season now in earnest, the leading voice for the US gambling industry has spoken about the activity as entertainment, with an important caveatImage Source: Shutterstock.com

The American Gaming Associationhas said that there is nothing wrong with a flutter, as long as those who engage in the activity do so “responsibly.” The words, stated by President Bill Millerfor an op-ed piece in the USA Today, come in time for Responsible Gaming Education Month.

American Gaming Association Urges Responsible Gambling This Season

Yet, for all the calls for transparency and responsibility in the industry and regulation, the trend to describe gambling as “gaming” has chafed people the wrong way and is at oddswith its stated purpose of raising the issue of problem gambling.

Regardless, Miller has doubled down on the association’s own campaigns, which include the Have a Game Plan initiative, which encourages players to set budget and time limits and make sure that they “stick to them.”

“Gambling isn’t bad if it’s done responsibly. It’s so important to have a game plan before you place a bet. Just like your favorite quarterback wouldn’t head into a big game without a strategy, betting works best when you set your plan and stick to it,”he wrote in the op-ed.

Miller noted that AGA is also pushing forward with RG through the Play Smart from the Smartcampaign, a separate initiative also seeking to help gamblers approach the activity with the right mindset, which means understanding that the activity is intended not as a way for enrichment, but casual fun.

Illegal Gambling Remains a Threat to the Regulated Market

Yet, many people actually gamble to win, or at least that is their main motivator. Miller took the opportunity of his op-ed to also address another outstanding problem– the growth of the illegal gambling market, which has increased consistently over the past years.

He criticized offshore operators as dangerous businesses that engage in predatory practices and are not interested in safeguarding consumers in the slightest. According to AGA, at least 24% of the gambling market in the country is now attributable to offshore operators.