Keywords
Responsible Gambling; Problem Gambling; Messages; Language
Disciplines
Advertising and Promotion Management | Communication
Document Type
Original Review Article (Essays, Opinion Pieces, and/or Book Reviews)
Abstract
The topic of responsible gambling has been the focus of debate over recent years. Unfortunately the language surrounding responsible gambling has proven ineffective, due to varying definitions and debate over stigma related to responsibility. This paper discusses the importance of language in communicating about consumer protection and harm minimization to the public. Three key areas of discussion are highlighted: 1) decoupling responsible gambling and problem gambling to reduce the barrier of stigma; 2) redefining responsible gambling, and 3) the need for conversations amongst peers and parents, all with the view to proactively prevent gambling-related harms.
Funding Sources
None
Competing Interests
All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This research was conducted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During the past 5 years, Dr. Marla Royne Stafford has received funding from the American Gaming Association, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and ESPN for work related to responsible gambling, as well as Emory University and the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality. She is on the Board of Advisors of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and is past Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the Harrah College of Hospitality. Dr. Anastasia Hronis has received grants from the University of Technology Sydney. Alan Feldman is a former executive at MGM Resorts International who retired from the company in 2019. He is currently an advisor to MGM solely on responsible gaming matters in Japan and Boyd Gaming on responsible gambling. Additionally, during the past three years, he has received funding from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, ESPN and Entain Foundation. He serves as chairman emeritus of the International Center for Responsible Gaming. The ICRG is funded by numerous gaming companies. During the past 5 years, Ted Hartwell has received research, consulting, speaking honoraria, and travel funding from the Desert Research Institute Lander Endowment Fund, the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, the International Center for Responsible Gaming, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies, Clarion Gaming, the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling, the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, and Broadband Security, Inc.