AGA Survey Shows Americans Support Gambling
Created: 10/5/2021Updated: 11/19/2021
According to new research out last month, almost 73% of all Americans support legalizing sports betting in their state.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), the leading gambling industry body in the US, released the results of a study showing that almost three-quarters of American adults would support regulated sports betting in their respective states.
Moreover, two-thirds think of online gambling as a positive contributor to the economy. Finally, 64% of all surveyed people believe that the industry provides high-quality jobs.
The AGA survey also asked respondents questions about responsible gambling, and found that the number of US residents who believe that the industry is committed to promoting responsible gambling increased by 40% compared to 2018.
As a matter of fact, a total of 78% of gamblers in the US know at least one resource related to responsible gaming, and as many as 43% know that there are phone and chat helplines that deal with gambling addiction and other related problems. A total of 33% know about telehealth support and counseling.
Citizens of the US perceive gaming as a good partner to the community, and almost 7 in 10 think that the industry is responsible. Most importantly, 57% of Americans believe that the gaming industry gives back to the community.
The overall favorable view of the gaming industry was 49% in 2019. This number was even lower in 2010 when only 34% of Americans trusted the industry.
Bill Miller, CEO and President of AGA, stated that the organization was a "committed, responsible partner and economic driver in communities across the country." Moreover, he added that the industry had risen from what he claimed to be "the most devastating period in (our) history," only to make a record-setting comeback.
The figures from the 2021 survey were based on 2,000 people who were surveyed during the summer. The survey was released just one week before the Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), which took place from 19 to 25 September.
According to Miller, the RGEW poses an opportunity for the AGA to showcase its members' excellent work in the industry every day. Moreover, it helps highlight how the industry invests in responsible gaming education.
Miller concluded that everyone in the industry needed to work together in order to grow in a responsible manner, especially at times of huge industry expansion to new geographies and verticals.
These survey results add further credence to the idea that legal real money online casinos would be accepted by most Americans.
And it is particularly encouraging to see that US residents are taking responsible gambling seriously.
