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The American Gaming Association has contributed $100,000 as a founding donor of the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s new Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering. 

The fund is dedicated to studying the impact of sports betting on American bettors since the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in May 2018.

The AGA, whose members include commercial and tribal casino operator, is a national trade group representing the $261bn US casino industry, which supports 1.8m jobs nationwide.

Research by the NCRG’s fund will equip operators, policymakers and in excess of 4,000 regulators across the US with science-based evidence to assess and design gaming provisions and policies that protect consumers and prioritise responsible gaming above all else. 

The creation of the fund has also been discussed this week at a Get to Know Gaming event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which will highlighted the industry’s commitment to responsibility during Responsible Gaming Education Week.

“The expansion of legal, regulated sports betting has made it increasingly important that responsible gaming is not only a signature priority in new gaming markets, but that we also continue to deepen our understanding of effective responsible gaming practices,” explained Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “The American Gaming Association is pleased to be a founding donor of this important endeavour.”

MGM Resorts International joined AGA as a founding donor, with AGA member, such ass William Hill US, GVC Holdings PLC, IGT and Hard Rock International, also making significant contributions to the fund.

“The NCRG has long been a catalyst in the field of gaming research. This fund is especially significant because it will open up research in a previously understudied field in the United States – defining what we know about the effects of sports wagering for years to come,” added Dr Russell Sanna, executive director for the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

“With new opportunities for legal sports betting around the country, policymakers, practitioners, the entire industry, and the public will benefit from expanding our knowledge on this issue.”