Consumer trust in gambling industry at a record high in US

Sin industries are not usually supposed to enjoy public acclamation. After all, you could hardly imagine regular people rooting for big tobacco or petrol giants.

Yet, as more Americans turn to sports betting and gaming, public sentiment for responsible gambling practices by companies in the sector has been soaring.

American public warms up to gambling as RG is more visible

A new study by the American Gaming Association (AGA), a trade group, has found that 75% of Americans now hold a favorable view of the gambling industry when it comes to responsible gambling and the industry’s commitment to the consumer. The figure specifically focuses on how gambling companies behave in the communities they operate in.

In the meantime, 9 out of 10 people view sports betting as an acceptable pastime and 75% of all respondents confirmed that they supported the legalization of sports wagering in their home states.

According to AGA Senior Vice President Strategic Communications Joe Maloney, this marked an increasingly positive view of sports gambling in the country and demonstrated the overall commitment by companies to make the industry safe and sustainable.

"These latest survey results highlight a consistent trend over the years: as gaming expands to new audiences, Americans increasingly see the benefits of a legal, regulated gaming marketplace that contributes to communities, prioritizes responsibility and provides unmatched entertainment," Maloney noted.

The results are published ahead of Responsible Gaming Education Month and signify a marked change in attitudes from the pre-PASPA era when sports gambling was regarded with a mix of suspicion and aversion.

The gambling industry is not the bad guys, the majority of Americans thinks

However, the destigmatization of the industry has helped shape it as a legitimate hobby for the American public. When asked whether the gambling companies are actively encouraging the public to bet and game responsibly to tackle problem gambling, 65% of respondents responded in the affirmative, up from 55% a year ago.

When asking people engaged in the activities rather than the public, though, these numbers go up – 81% of people who play at casinos and 88% of sports bettors said that they had indeed seen the industry work actively towards promoting safer gambling and helping consumers steer clear from gambling-related harm.

All of this is so, according to Maloney, who concluded that the industry’s efforts to protect consumers are stronger than ever, and people are noticing.

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