AGA Expands Its Have A Game Plan Campaign with Fifth Pillar
Last Updated: December 9, 2024 3:44 PM EST • 1 min 58 sec read.
The premier national trade group that represents many of our best sports betting sites and real-money online casinos takes responsible gaming very seriously.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has added a fifth pillar to its Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign. The new pillar, “Keep Your Cool,” emphasizes the wrongfulness of athlete harassment. The AGA says that sports betting is entertainment and bettors should “respect the game,” stating, “Winning and losing are part of sports betting, nobody is perfect; the result of a bet should not prompt negative actions – in person or online – towards athletes and officials.”
“Responsible gaming efforts like Have A Game Plan and other proactive efforts by legal operators are resonating with consumers and making a difference,” commented AGA CEO and President Bill Miller, as reported in a company . “‘Keep Your Cool’ builds on this momentum by reminding bettors that a betting result – good or bad – is not an invitation to criticize a team, official, or athlete.”
The campaign has previously educated bettors through the following four pillars:
- Set a Budget
- Keep It Social
- Know the Odds
- Play Legally
from the AGA revealed an increase in the number of Americans who believe that such responsible gaming initiatives are effective, at 66% compared to 59% in 2023.
An enhanced fan experience
The campaign has nationwide support from sports leagues, teams, and gaming operators. An early supporter of the campaign, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), highlighted the importance of the new pillar. The company’s Managing Director of Sports Betting, Joe Solosky, said: “At NASCAR, we believe responsible gaming enhances the overall fan experience.”
“‘Keep Your Cool’ reflects our shared commitment to encouraging fans to bet responsibly while maintaining a respectful approach to the sport they love,” he continued.
AGA and NASCAR entered their responsible gambling partnership in 2020 amid Responsible Gambling Education Week.
“The AGA uniquely understands the convergence of legal betting, sports, and responsible gaming. As sports bettors increasingly engage with Nascar, we look forward to working together to promote bettor education and resources that help prepare our fans for the rapidly expanding legal sports betting landscape,” commented Scott Warfield, who was previously the company’s Managing Director of Gaming.
Helping a growing industry
Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ launched in 2019, around a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, paving the way for individual states to legalize sports betting.
“The expansion of legal sports betting in the United States offers sports fans the opportunity to engage with their favorite teams and leagues in a new and fun way. Have A Game Plan provides tools and resources to help you play safely and responsibly,” says the official .
As of 2024, sports betting is live and legal in 38 states plus Washington, D.C. However, this number is set to rise next year with the addition of Missouri sports betting. Late last week, state election officials certified the election results, revealing that Amendment 2 passed by less than 3,000 votes.
Ziv Chen
