JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri casino employees will serve as responsible gaming ambassadors during the casino industry’s 16th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), August 5 – 9. RGEW was created by the American Gaming Association (AGA) in 1998 to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of problem gambling issues nationwide.
This year’s RGEW theme “How Do You Say Responsible Gaming?” embraces diversity and encourages employees to make a personal connection to responsible gaming. The gaming industry’s diversity – among both employees and patrons – is one of its greatest strengths, according to the AGA.
“No matter what language they speak, every Missouri casino employee speaks responsible gaming,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association. “Responsible gaming is a year-round priority of Missouri casino employees, from top executives to front-line team members. During RGEW, we’ll work on reaching diverse audiences through brochures, videos and other educational materials.”
The AGA is inviting casino companies to film their employees speaking responsible gaming messages in their native languages. A selection of messages in multiple languages will be featured in a video that AGA will distribute on their YouTube channel and via social media in the weeks following RGEW.
Missouri casinos also will provide free responsible gaming brochures and other materials at every casino property during RGEW. Employees will wear buttons, ribbons and stickers with the message “I speak responsible gaming.”
Responsible gaming materials will be available in a variety of languages including English, Spanish, French, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese. Brochures include “The House Advantage: A Guide to Understanding the Odds,” “Taking the Mystery Out of the Machine: A Guide to Understanding Slot Machines,” “Talking with Children About Gambling,” and “Keeping It Fun: A Guide to Responsible Gaming.”
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.
In addition to distributing materials to patrons, individual Missouri casinos will participate in RGEW with these activities:
Ameristar KC and St. Charles
• Team members will wear RGEW ribbons;
• Responsible gaming quiz and prizes;
• Responsible gaming messages in the Team Member cafeteria, iTV slides and Ameristar’s Winning newsletter;
• Internal audit to ensure compliance with the AGA Code of Conduct;
Argosy Casino Hotel and Spa
• Daily responsible gaming Jeopardy Game for patrons with the chance to win prizes (chip clips and notebooks).
• Responsible Gaming from Riverside and Beyond slogan in various languages to represent Argosy’s diverse team.
• Chili cook-off competition by Argosy’s culinary team. Team member donations to taste and vote for the best chili will benefit Argosy Cares Team, which supports team members in need.
• Team members will volunteer at Argosy’s local charitable partner Synergy Services thrift shop during RGEW. Argosy offers paid charity time;
• Mayor of Riverside proclamation will declare August 5-9 Responsible Gaming Education Week;
• Daily games in employee dining room with the chance to win Argosy merchandise;
• Campaign throughout the property for patrons and employees, including TV messages, JumboTron, banner at casino entrance, and posters;
• Daily RGEW campaigns, pre-shift responsible gaming discussions, email blasts, and a responsible gaming presentation on team member TVs;
• All team members will wear AGA responsible gaming ribbons and receive a logoed chip clip.
Harrah’s NKC
• Daily Topic of Discussion and quiz for employees (on responsible gaming issues such as unattended children, employee roles, difference between state and property exclusions);
• Employees will wear responsible gaming wristbands;
• Cards and dice for employees.
Hollywood Casino St. Louis
• Videotaping multi-lingual employees discussing responsible gaming issues;
• Team members will create a music video focused on responsible gaming topics;
• Annual responsible gaming training;
• Interactive promotions and games with team members and customers;
• Employee rally focusing on responsible gaming issues.
Isle of Capri – Boonville
• Employees will wear RGEW ribbons, participate in daily activities and be eligible for prizes;
• Posters and brochures will be displayed around the property.
Lady Luck – Caruthersville
• Responsible gaming education table for guests;
• Mayor of Caruthersville proclamation will declare August 5-9 Responsible Gaming Education Week;
• Responsible gaming messages on ATM machines;
• Daily games, puzzles, quizzes for staff;
• Manager pre-shift messages and information;
• General Manager will be on the casino floor on every shift to quiz employees about responsible gaming;
• RGEW signs in all break rooms, back of house hallways;
• Media crawl streamlining on local channels;
• Advertisement in local newspaper.
Isle of Capri Cape Girardeau
• Videotaping team members speaking responsible gaming phrases in various languages;
• Displaying posters and table tents;
• Hosting a “Game Show” quiz in the employee dining room.
Isle of Capri KC
• RGEW presentation in employee dining room, with alcohol awareness and underage patron educational refreshers;
• RGEW presentation available on property-wide shared network. Team members will sign an acknowledgment that they viewed the presentation;
• AGA puzzles and games;
Pinnacle Entertainment’s River City Casino and Lumière Place Casino
• Informational brochures for guests at mychoice player’s club and cashier locations;
• Activities sheet to educate team members about responsible gaming;
• Daily responsible gaming talks at pre-shift meetings to reinforce ongoing training.
St. Jo Frontier Casino and Mark Twain Casino
• Posters, flyers and a table at the casino entrance;
• All employees will wear AGA responsible gaming buttons;
• “Employee Talking Points for the Day” quiz with the chance to win Worlds of Fun tickets;
• Employee games and word puzzles;
• Responsible gaming educational refreshers for employees.
The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry and its related professionals. Formed in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association provides research and information to increase awareness of the economic benefits of Missouri’s casinos. For more information, visit jp2.496.myftpupload.com.
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