Massachusetts releases responsible gaming program ahead of sports betting launch
GameSense aims to prevent problem gambling by informing bettors of the risks involved.
A Massachusetts state program has been formulated by regulators to prevent problem gambling, ahead of the Bay State’s March 10 launch of online sports betting. The program, named ‘GameSense,’ has been released as part of the state’s casino legislation.
GameSense is meant to teach gamblers how to play responsibly, including understanding the odds of winning. It will highlight ‘voluntary self-exclusion,’ a practice where people ban themselves from betting if they are losing too much money.
Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health member Chelsea Turner is partially responsible for running GameSense. She says workers have received information from cooperating sports betting companies.
Turner commented: “What we’re specifically interested in learning more about is, what are the different types of wagers? Which kinds of wagers are riskier than others if a patron is going to be asking us questions?”
GameSense is also offering merchandise to coincide with its release, with sports-related ‘swag’ including items such as squishy balls and t-shirts intended to promote the program.
Turner says sports bettors tend to be unreceptive to the message that their favored type of betting is far more luck-based than skill-based.
She says there is a general misconception that sports betting is a skill-based activity. This means Massachusetts sports fans are not always receptive to advice from GameSense personnel.
She commented further: “When we’re having conversations, sometimes they’re a little bit of a harder nut to crack, as far as getting some engagement.”
Having launched retail sports betting on January 31, Massachusetts will debut online sports wagering on March 10 and major sportsbooks have already gone live in The Bay State.
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