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.”

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.

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 www.missouricasinos.org.

Lewis County Press-News Journal ©August 2015