Caesars Entertainment, then named Harrah’s, pioneered the casino entertainment industry’s first responsible gaming efforts more than 25 years ago when a group of employees formed a task force to study the issue of gambling disorders. After months of research, the task force developed the industry’s first initiative to help employees, guests and the public understand the importance of responsible gaming and the prevention of underage gambling.
Caesars Entertainment continues to be the casino industry’s chief advocate for promoting responsible gaming. We have implemented two responsible gaming programs, Operation Bet Smart® and Project 21®, as well as an Unattended Children Policy.
Additionally, Caesars Entertainment works with the National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., its local councils, and other service agencies in our markets on a continuing basis to promote a better understanding of responsible gaming and underage gambling. In fact, we provided the initial funding to establish the National Council’s 24-hour toll-free helpline. Caesars Entertainment launched the casino industry’s first broadcast advertising campaign to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of toll free helpline numbers.
We also support research on these issues through ongoing financial contributions to the National Center for Responsible Gaming. We were awarded the National Council’s first corporate award, which recognized Caesars Entertainment for its proactive efforts on responsible gaming. Caesars Entertainment invites other members of the casino industry to join us in promoting responsible gaming.
Operation Bet Smart®: Know When To Stop Before You Start® is a program designed to formally train employees about the importance of responsible gaming and the policies and procedures of Caesars Entertainment’s Responsible Gaming programs. While we recognize our employees are not counselors, Caesars Entertainment feels that encouraging employee awareness puts employees at a comfort level, helps them understand the company’s position on the issue and supplies them with valuable information and direction to potentially help others.
At all our casinos, we provide Responsible Gaming signage on the casino floor and back-of-house so that employees always know where to refer customers requesting assistance. We also provide Responsible Gaming information in brochures, on hold messages and via Caesars Entertainment’s Responsible Gaming campaigns, as well as including helpline phone numbers on all marketing collateral, player cards and hotel directories. These communication efforts serve to provide our customers an unobtrusive vehicle for obtaining more information about Responsible Gaming and seeking assistance. Since 2003, Caesars Entertainment locations throughout the world also have Responsible Gaming Ambassadors who promote responsible gaming to our guests and offer assistance to guests who may not be gambling responsibly. In 2017, we had 815 Responsible Gaming Ambassadors at North America locations.
This initiative teaches casino employees, minors, parents and guardians about the consequences of gambling under the legal age. Casinos are not for our kids. We do not hesitate to uphold the laws concerning the legal gambling age in each state.
For more than a decade, Caesars Entertainment has been the chief advocate of Project 21®, now an industry-wide program that encompasses employee training and public awareness about underage gambling. Caesars Entertainment is committed to keeping minors off the casino floor. Project 21® is now a licensed program for any casino in our industry to use, and any casino can contribute to Project 21® scholarship efforts. We are very proud that the success of Project 21® has let it outside our door and into the halls of high schools across the U.S.
Other Project 21® efforts include the front and back-of-house signage, detailed employee training on cues for identifying minors, and the on-going creation of materials to keep employees and players aware. Like Operation Bet Smart®, Project 21® also includes the creation of materials for public education, such as TV public service announcements.
All Caesars Entertainment employees are trained to card individuals who appear to be below the age of 30, as well as ways to detect potentially invalid identification. If a minor is trying to gamble under false identification, our security officers will intervene and may contact outside law enforcement. We want all of our guests to have an enjoyable time at our destinations, but we will not condone breaking the law. We Care. We Card.® And we will take action.
Our Unattended Children Policy is a communication effort that encourages parents not to leave children unattended at our destinations, and trains employees on the proper approach to use upon discovering an unattended child. Seeking to urge parents not to leave their children without adult supervision, every Caesars Entertainment casino has standard procedures to promote parental responsibility and protect the safety of children and minors. Parents are informed through signage and brochures about our policies and employees are asked to keep an eye out and call security for any child that has been left unattended.
In 1995, Caesars Entertainment helped fund the first national helpline (1-800-522-4700) for gambling disorders – providing callers with counseling and direction to local assistance in any state. Our funding to assist local health service agencies, councils and seminars continues yearly through funding efforts by our corporate office and casino properties. Knowing gambling disorders can potentially reach the “other side” of the table, Caesars Entertainment provides confidential counseling assistance for employees through our Employee Assistance Program.
Our self-restriction program allows a person to request not to receive direct marketing by Caesars Entertainment owned, managed or operated destinations, as well as be denied credit and check cashing privileges. Our self-exclusion program allows a guest to request to have all privileges, including play privileges denied at all Caesars Entertainment owned, managed or operated destinations. Forms to request self-restriction or self-exclusion are available at all Caesars Entertainment owned, managed or operated destinations or by calling 1-800-694-9960.
For self-help materials for people with gambling disorders, download Harvard Medical School’s “Gambling – Your First Step To Change” toolkit.
For additional information about gambling disorders, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling’s website.
If you or someone you know might have a gambling problem, call the National Council on Problem Gambling’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Click here for Responsible Gaming at Caesars Windsor.
