Why Responsible Gaming Must Remain the Industry’s North Star
Regulated gaming is the heartbeat of the industry. Without sufficient regulation, trust is gone. Stephen Martino, the chief compliance officer for MGM Resorts International, explains why it is so important for organizations to pledge to the public that they are dedicated to transparency and ethics.
The future of gaming will be defined not only by innovation but also by trust.
As new gambling products and platforms emerge, consumers have more choices than ever before. That evolution creates exciting opportunities, but it also raises questions about the obligations operators have to the people and communities that they serve.
At MGM Resorts and other companies within the regulated gaming space, our answer is simple: responsible gaming is not a superfluous add-on to our business. It is core to how we operate.
Investing in Integrity
For decades, licensed gambling operators have worked within a regulatory framework designed to balance entertainment with consumer protection. That framework requires investments in employee training, age verification, marketing standards, responsible gaming tools, compliance systems, and programs that help people make informed decisions. Those standards exist because a sustainable industry depends on legal adherence, regulatory compliance and public confidence.
That is why MGM Resorts continues to invest heavily in responsible gaming initiatives across our company. Through our GameSense program, we provide guests with practical information and tools that encourage informed play. Every MGM Resorts employee completes annual responsible gaming training, and more than 3,000 have gone beyond that requirement to become certified GameSense Advisors. All of this helps ensure that awareness and support are woven throughout the guest experience and not confined to a single department.
Our commitment extends beyond our properties. This September, MGM Resorts and BetMGM committed $320,000 to initiatives supporting research, education, prevention, treatment resources, and problem gambling assistance programs. We are partnering with researchers, community organizations, and industry stakeholders because advancing responsible gaming requires collaboration and continuous improvement.
Right for Regulation
As policymakers and consumers consider new forms of wagering, it is important to recognize the value of operating within a regulated system. Licensed gambling operators are: accountable to the more than 280 state and tribal regulating agencies across the United States; subject to consumer protection requirements; obligated to contribute to community improvement through taxes that fund responsible gaming programs and state priorities; and community-focused philanthropy. These aren’t burdens. They are a feature of a system designed to create transparency, integrity, and trust.
As new forms of gambling emerge, including those that may be offered through black-market or prediction markets, the safeguards that support responsible gaming should not be an afterthought. These products should be subject to the same regulatory oversight and taxation and accompanied by the same commitment to consumer safeguards, responsible practices, and community investment.
These responsibilities go hand-in-hand with success. Doing right by guests, employees, and communities is not separate from business performance. It is what makes long-term success possible.
Responsible gaming serves a larger purpose. It helps ensure that gambling remains a form of entertainment not investment, supports public confidence in our industry, and strengthens the communities where we operate. As the industry continues to evolve, those principles should remain constant.
At MGM Resorts, they will.
Stephen Martino is Chief Compliance Officer & Senior Vice President at MGM Resorts International.
