By Damian Martinez, journalist at G&M News.
In March 2024, you were announced as the new Executive Director at the Responsible Online Gaming Association. How does it feel to be leading this initiative and what are your main responsibilities in the new role?
I am incredibly excited about the creation of ROGA and to be joining as the Executive Director. As someone who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, I am greatly encouraged by the commitment seven of America’s largest online gaming operators (BetMGM, bet365, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital, and PENN Entertainment) have shown by coming together and investing significant resources to launch ROGA and, more importantly, to enhance consumer protections across the industry. Responsible gaming is vital, and I’m proud to lead the Association in collaborating with researchers, experts, and other organizations working in this space. Together, we aim to improve our understanding of effective RG measures and enhance existing programs with evidence-based practices. I am thrilled to be at the forefront of this initiative that will drive positive change in the industry.
Can you tell us more about ROGA? How did the initiative originate?
The online gaming industry is continuously looking for new and innovative ways to both inform operators of industry best practices and educate, equip, and empower bettors to manage their play while enjoying the fun of sports wagering and iGaming. Each of the seven member companies has existing responsible gaming programs in place, but there is a broad understanding that some aspects of this are better addressed collaboratively. These companies recognized the need for a collective response and came together to form ROGA. We want to promote evidence-based responsible gaming practices across the industry. Ultimately, ROGA’s mission is to empower players through education, programs, and accessible tools, fostering a gaming environment that remains enjoyable and recreational for players.
What initiatives are being promoted by ROGA to combat problem gambling?
I think there are a couple of important things to remember when it comes to responsible gaming. First, responsible gaming programs and tools are designed to ensure gaming remains a fun and recreational experience, as it’s intended to be. Additionally, it’s important to recognize that every consumer stands to gain from access to responsible gaming tools and information. Responsible gaming programs are really about prevention, which means helping prevent problematic behavior. Effective responsible gaming initiatives not only foster enjoyable experiences for players, but also uphold the long-term sustainability of the industry. However, the true challenge lies in gaining a deeper understanding, rooted in academic research, of which strategies are effective and which are not. This is precisely where our mission comes into play. It is relevant to draw a distinction between responsible gaming and problem gambling. I believe promoting responsible gaming is crucial for the prevention of problem gambling. There is a stigma that we need to address that responsible gaming programs and tools are somehow only intended for those experiencing problems. In fact, every consumer can benefit from enhanced RG tools, education, and information, and the intended target of these programs is the entire customer base.
What are the project goals of the Association?
With all the aforementioned in mind, our goal is to promote evidence-based responsible gaming practices across the industry and to empower players through education and RG programs and tools. Our plan to meet those goals centers on five key areas: 1) we will support and fund independent research on responsible gaming-related issues to understand and enhance responsible gaming measures. Speaking from my academic experience and as someone who has worked in the RG policy space for more than two decades, it is essential that evidence-based approaches are pursued; 2) research will shape our efforts to drive RG education and awareness -for both industry and consumer audiences-, and inform efforts ranging from encouraging engagement with RG tools to improved responsible advertising and marketing practices; 3) we will promote evidence-based best practices that can be adopted across the industry; 4) all of this will support our dedication to establish an independent certification program to assess members’ responsible gaming efforts, providing operators with an objective evaluation of their responsible gaming policies and procedures, and, finally, 5) we will establish an independent database to facilitate information sharing and allow a mechanism for industry-wide protection of consumers.
Why is it essential to continue insisting on these issues, both among companies and consumers?
RG policy is intricate and requires ongoing assessment. We plan to harness research, data analysis, and player feedback to gauge efficacy and drive improvement. We need to continuously reassess what works, and those assessments must always be based on rigorous, peer-reviewed research. One of the areas that requires particular study is the evaluation of how to improve engagement with RG tools for all players.