JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri casino employees are serving as responsible gaming ambassadors during the casino industry’s 18th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), August 3-7. RGEW was created by the American Gaming Association (AGA) in 1998 to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of problem gambling issues nationwide.
Across Missouri, casino employees will wear buttons, ribbons and stickers with responsible gaming messages, and offer free responsible gaming brochures and other materials during RGEW. Brochures include “Play Responsibly,” “Get to Know Slot Machines,” “Understand the Odds,” and “Responsible Player Guidelines and Characteristics.” Free brochures, posters and other responsible gaming education materials are available from the American Gaming Association website www.americangaming.org or at http://bit.ly/RGEW2015.
“Responsible gaming is an ongoing priority of Missouri casino employees, from top executives to front-line team members,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association. “Responsible Gaming Education Week is an opportunity for our casinos to expand on the work they do every day, educating employees and patrons about the issue.”
At Isle of Capri – Kansas City, team members will wear Responsible Gaming Education buttons all week and attend refresher training on responsible gaming. The casino also will post employee educational materials throughout the back of house area.
Argosy Casino Hotel and Spa in Kansas City will invite casino patrons to spin a color-coded wheel and test their knowledge of responsible gaming in exchange for a participation prize (Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.). The casino also will post responsible gaming information on their Facebook page to educate patrons. Argosy team members will participate in a responsible gaming-themed scavenger hunt, crossword puzzles and other activities.
Ameristar Kansas City will display posters at casino floor entrances to promote responsible gaming. They also will educate team members through iTV, departmental meetings, a newsletter, posters, a quiz with prizes, and daily emails from the general manager.
Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange will raise awareness about responsible gaming with a series of events for team members, casino patrons and the community. Life Crisis Center will train team members to recognize when gaming may not be responsible and learn how to assist guests who may have crossed that line. Casino Ambassadors and Hosts will distribute responsible gaming brochures and stickers to guests as they enter the casino. Videos and signs will reinforce the responsible gaming message, while team members will wear “Play Responsibly” wristbands and buttons to inspire conversations about responsible gaming. Team members also will bolster their knowledge about Responsible Gaming through interactive games, prizes, commemorative t-shirts and themed food specials.
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles will educate team members on Responsible Gaming through back of house educational materials, activities and a quiz with prizes.
Lumière Place Casino & Hotels in St. Louis will create and present a video of the employees explaining responsible gaming means to them. The casino also will educate employees through meetings, signage, crossword games and quizzes for prizes and a special employee meal.
Hollywood Casino in Maryland Heights has multiple events planned including employee training, an employee scavenger hunt, T-shirts, signage at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, a video for the corporate team, and various fundraisers to benefit Provident STL, which staffs the 1.888.BETSOFF hotline for problem gamblers.
The Missouri Gaming Association and its casino company members sponsor and fund year-round programs to address responsible gaming issues. Every Missouri casino property has a designated employee who serves as the director of responsible gaming programs for that location. Missouri’s ongoing responsible gaming programs include:
• 1-888-BETSOFF – a statewide telephone crisis line and referral service for problem gambling.
• Project 21 – a scholarship competition that addresses underage gambling;
• Operation Bet Smart – an awareness program that focuses on compulsive gambling;
• Alcohol Awareness Programs – promote responsible consumption of alcohol.
The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry. Founded in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association works to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of the economic benefits of casinos in Missouri. For more information, visit jp2.496.myftpupload.com.
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