Caesars Entertainment makes strides to combat problem gambling
Coupled with National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Caesars Entertainment, the world's most diverse casino entertainment provider, has announced two new policies that add commitment to responsible gaming. Caesars, already a leader in promoting responsible gaming tools that allow customers to manage their games, is expanding its own exclusion program by implementing the industry's broadest universal exclusion policy, which will apply across the company's strong gaming portfolio. The company is also adopting an enhanced 21+ gaming policy that limits Caesars Rewards accounts to individuals 21 and older and limits all domestic gaming, Paris Mutual, sports and iGaming options to those 21 and older, if permitted by law. "As the largest gaming company in North America, we have a special responsibility to ensure that everything we do is built on the solid foundation of Responsible Gaming. We take that responsibility very seriously, and these new policies reflect that commitment," said Tom Reed, CEO of Caesars Entertainment. "We're happy that now, when someone tells us that playing with us is no longer in their best interest, we're able to ensure that they're excluded from their local wealth or national exclusion programs through mobile apps. Considering our national presence and many of the offerings we offer, we are confident that it is in the best interest of our company and our community to restrict access to our Caesars Rewards database, including all gaming options and options traditionally open to people 18 and older." The universal exclusion policy is expected to take effect by the end of March and is the largest exclusion option available in the country. Excluding limited property that has not yet been fully integrated into Caesars' IT environment, the policy will cover Caesars Entertainment's products, including Caesars Sportsbook, iGaming and offline facilities. All participants on the self-excluded list of state sponsorships currently operated by Caesars will be added to the companywide universal exclusion list for Caesars' gaming facilities and platforms. Everyone can also add to the list so that all gaming permissions are revoked, including direct and online play permission, checking monetization, extending credit, mail, marketing, free, and Caesars Rewards benefits. Building this technological and scalable platform has been amazing and we are extremely proud of our team for the work put into bringing this new capability to life," said Jeffrey Hendrix, Regulatory and Compliance SVP and Assistant General Counsel at Caesars Entertainment. "The implementation of this new policy has been difficult, but our goal has been to provide a more comprehensive exclusion option for our players to ensure that everyone playing with us does so responsibly. We have achieved that goal and are now honored to provide the most comprehensive exclusion option in the country." Historically, in accordance with the company's self-exclusion policy, players can request that all rights be denied for a year, five years, or indefinitely. If the player requests self-exclude, the exclusion applies to all Caesars Entertainment owned, operated, serviced and managed properties and products. The new feature will be excluded from both mobile and direct betting by adding players who choose to self-exclude via the Caesars Sportsbook app. Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, said, "The NCPG has long had a great partnership with Caesars Entertainment." "We are pleased that Caesars continues to innovate in responsible gambling advertising, team member training and corporate social responsibility. The latest achievements with universal exclusion policies demonstrate real leadership in responsible gambling." In addition to the universal exclusion policy, we have an enhanced 21+ gaming policy in place. In the first half of this year, Caesars will restrict access to the Caesars Rewards database from customers in jurisdiction who allow users under the age of 21 to use Caesars' products. Additionally, Caesars will limit all domestic gaming, Paris Mutual, sports and iGaming options to individuals 21 and older, if permitted by law. Caesars' new enhanced 21+ gaming policy sets industry-leading levels to limit gaming activities to over-21s. "Since launching Project 21 in 1989 and establishing the industry's first responsible gaming standard, Caesars Entertainment has firmly stuck to our commitment to deliver meaningful solutions to problems and underage gaming," said Anthony Carano, president of Caesars Entertainment. "As we grow, we recognize the importance of ensuring that we support that message in a meaningful way for our entire enterprise. Establishing consistent standards regarding age limits underscores our commitment to our guests and industry." Caesars Entertainment's new commitment to responsible gaming also includes the expansion of responsible gaming education programs, the introduction of new responsible gaming committees, funding for organizations operating in those areas, and the release of responsible gaming ads nationwide within the last year. Led by Caesars' PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework, which provides a direction for companies to act with integrity and care for their team members, communities and the environment, the initiative includes: - EDUCATION - Caesars has expanded its industry-leading responsible gambling education program to its sports betting business, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino. Both Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino team members are currently receiving responsible gaming training. The program expands further to 1,600 responsible game ambassador specialized training that identifies and helps guests who may not play responsible games. Ambassador program has grown more than 60% since 2021. - Governance - Caesars recently formed the Responsible Gaming Council with seven senior leaders to oversee Responsible Gaming policies on behalf of the company. The committee is made up of individuals across Caesars Entertainment companies to ensure that different perspectives and markets are considered in the evaluation process and that the company can act responsibly. - Financing - Caesars' commitment to responsible gaming extends through the Caesars Foundation, a charitable giving platform. In 2022, Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Foundation donated more than $300,000 to the Center for International Responsible Gambling (ICRG), the National Problem Gambling Commission, and various responsible gaming nonprofits for research, education, workforce development, and problem gambling treatment. Caesars is also sponsoring several annual problem gambling conferences in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Arizona to support Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Public Education - Through partnerships with the NFL and the Manning family, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino has developed several Responsible Gaming ads, including the first ever Responsible Gaming commercial to air around the Super Bowl during the 2021-2022 season. The company continues to release Responsible Gaming ads, several of which have centered around the Super Bowl during the recent NFL season and will continue to run until Madness in March. The commercial airs on NFL Network and ESPN as well as local, featuring Mannings, JB Smoove, Henrik Lundqvist, Trey Wingo and Kenny Mayne. This ad is another way for Caesars Entertainment to educate its players about the importance of responsible play, both directly and online. "Responsible Gaming is part of our CSR framework and we strive to improve every day," said Heather Rapp, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility at Caesars Entertainment. "We are committed to building on Caesars Entertainment's legacy by continuing to innovate in critical spaces such as Responsible Gaming. PGAM is the perfect time to recognize the importance of responsible play and what we are doing to create a better environment for our communities."