Spring is nearly here, which means it’s almost time to set those clocks forward and bet on March Madness basketball.
But before you do, remember to place wagers responsibly.
The American Gaming Association, a DC-based gambling industry advocacy group, launched its “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaign on Thursday ahead of the 2020 NCAA men’s basketball tournament—one of the sportsbooks’ biggest draws of the year.
Bill Miller, the president and CEO of the AGA, said the goal of the campaign is to encourage bettors to manage a budgeted bankroll and bring awareness to all the ways you can bet on sports legally in the United States.
“This is a watershed moment for sports betting in the United States,” Miller said in the AGA press release. “Roughly 100 million Americans will be able to legally wager on sports in their state by the end of this year. It’s more important than ever that the gaming industry, and our new partners in the sports betting ecosystem, are proactive in equipping patrons with the tools they need to engage in these offerings in a responsible manner.”
Campaign ads for the promotion can already be found in the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The AGA said it plans to eventually launch in all the states with legal sports betting.
The AGA’s “Have a Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaign intends to bring awareness to its four principles to achieve responsible sports betting:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social: play with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Be informed: learn the details of the games you’re playing.
- Play with trusted licensed, regulated operators.
Miller said by making the public aware of responsible gambling practices, the future of the legal US sports betting market will be that much brighter.
“By encouraging consumers to have a game plan when they wager, the industry is making good on its commitment to instill responsibility as a key tenant of every new legal sports betting market,” Miller said.
With DC sports betting launching soon and Nevada sportsbooks on board with the campaign, the message is sure to be heard by bettors all across the country before the madness from March is over.
“When it comes to legal sports betting, nothing can be more important than responsibility,” said Jim Van Stone, president, business operations, and chief commercial officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Monumental Sports is proud to support the AGA’s Have a Game Plan™ campaign in Capital One Arena and establish a high bar for responsibility, even before legal sports betting launches in Washington, DC.”
“The Golden Knights are pleased to work with the American Gaming Association to extend our state’s longstanding commitment to responsibility by encouraging all of our fans to Have a Game Plan™,” said Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz. “Gaming should always be enjoyed responsibly. We look forward to working with the AGA on educating our fans and reinforcing this messaging during our home games at The Fortress.”
And if all else fails to convince you to bet on sports in a responsible manner, then as Michael Jordan would say, “Stop it. Get some help.”
