A three-year follow-up study of MGM Resorts employees’ views of a responsible gambling program

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Author(s): Abarbanel, Brett L. ; Xu, Tiange ; Kraus, Shane W. ; Gray, Heather M. ; Louderback, Eric R. ; LaPlante, Debi A. ; Bernhard, Bo J.

Journal: International Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: February 26, 2022

GameSense is a responsible gambling program implemented by MGM Resorts International in Fall 2017. Two previous studies had examined data collected just before and one year after GameSense was put in place at MGM’s North American casinos (Year 1 and Year 2). In this study, the researchers examined data collected two years after the program was put in place (Year 3). In Year 3, Casino Front of House employees thought GameSense was more effective than Non-Casino Front of House and Security and Surveillance employees. Back of House employees were more likely to hold gambling misbeliefs than Casino Front of House, and Security and Surveillance employees. Compared to Year 1 and Year 2, employees in Year 3 thought GameSense was less effective and company support was lower.

Citation: Abarbanel, B., Xu, T., Kraus, S., Gray, H., Louderback, E., LaPlante, D., & Bernhard, B. (2021). Association between casino resort employee department and responsible gambling program perceptions: A three-year follow-up study. International Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2021.2007976

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2021.2007976

Keywords: casino employees ; casino staff ; casinos ; gambling ; gambling industry ; GameSense ; longitudinal studies ; responsible gambling ; responsible gaming programs

Topics: Gambling Resources ; Information for Operators ; Venue/Casino

Conceptual Framework Factors: Environment - Culture of Social Responsibility ; Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Gambling Environment ; Gambling Exposure

Response Rate: 4% for Year 3 survey

Study Design: Observational: Longitudinal

Geographic Coverage: North America

Study Population: Employees of MGM North American properties (N = 1114 for Year 3 survey). The researchers also used data collected for Year 1 (N = 2192) and Year 2 (N 852) for comparisons.

Sampling Procedure: The Year 3 survey was distributed via two channels to reach employees. First, an e-mail with a direct URL to the survey was sent to all MGM employees who held a company e-mail address. Second, the researchers collected data in-person at MGM properties, where iPads with the online survey loaded were made available at the respective properties’ ‘HR Concierge’ desk.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the MGM Resorts International, a large international gambling operator.