Educating Celebrities and Fans: Responsible Gambling Campaigns in the Entertainment World
The number of iGaming industry players rapidly grows: new online casinos appear almost daily. Therefore, every platform aims to attract customers by implementing different promotional campaigns. Players have an insane choice, but the seemingly innocent entertainment hides some unpleasant secrets.
Gambling addiction rates are now among the essential industry challenges. The topic is widely discussed in 2023, and addressing the problem is essential for operators, responsible authorities, and operators. Celebrities significantly impact the gambling scene globally, as many users would gladly follow their icon’s lifestyle and preferences. Therefore, many operators engage famous stars to boost interest in their brands. On the other hand, it’s important for influencers to increase their fans’ awareness of the potential harmful consequences of excessive playing and motivate them to gamble responsibly.
The Prevalence of Gambling in Entertainment
Gambling has become more accessible than ever after the appearance of virtual casinos. Celebrities add to the popularity of this entertainment: stars like Drake, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon never hide their passion for the risky activity. However, many of them spend insane sums on poker, blackjack, and slots but completely forget to mention responsible gambling. Maybe they also need to join a self-exclusion program?
Numerous advertisements on the TV and on the web encourage users to engage in this entertainment. Bright ads promise fantastic wins for a couple of dollars invested, and many people get involved in the industry, dreaming of easy income. Popular gambling movies also pour oil on flames: viewers want to feel like James Bond in a luxury Vegas casino and receive insane winnings.
Celebrities often become ambassadors of renowned casino brands. For instance, the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo, known to have earned a fortune from his advertisement campaigns, got a PokerStars sponsorship and mentioned he is a passionate fan of this game. Who wouldn’t like to be like the best footballer? Other celebrities who were betting and gambling brands’ ambassadors include Conor McGregor, Drake, Mike Tyson, and many more.
The Rise of Responsible Gambling Campaigns and Self-Exclusion Tools
If gambling addiction wasn’t even considered a disorder several decades ago, now this issue is widely discussed. More and more people understand this disease’s seriousness and subsequent treatment’s complexity. Increased people’s awareness is a positive industry change. But still, the gambling addiction rate reaches 6% in some regions, which is a significant figure that must drop.
Informing the population of possible negative outcomes and providing tips for responsible gambling is the key to the problem solution. However, users would hardly listen to a random expert. Instead, many would gladly follow the example of their favourite actor or singer. This is why engaging celebrities in promoting healthy gambling behaviours is essential.
Currently, numerous measures for coping with harmful gaming consequences are available to users. Self-exclusion programs are among the most efficient tools to fight the disease. However, such software limits access to gaming platforms and sportsbooks for a particular period, and the ban cannot be suspended. Therefore, more and more players prefer casino sites that are not on GamStop for their diverse offerings and flexible gaming experiences. In such an instance, users must consider responsible tips and engage in alternative self-exclusion programs if necessary.
Celebrities as Advocates for Responsible Gambling
Organizing special responsible gambling campaigns featuring famous people is also a working tool to raise awareness. For instance, Draft Kings operator has recently launched a new initiative with Tony Hawk and The Miz. They both aim to attract attention to problem gaming and alert everyone spending time in casinos.
BetMGM is another gaming operator bringing a responsible approach to its audience. It has lately collaborated with the best US soccer clubs, using their stadiums to develop the initiative. Nine NFL stadiums will inform viewers of the main principles on betting consciously and supporting mental health.
Football teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers have already joined the new campaign, and many are confident it will become one of the most successful responsible gambling initiatives held globally. Advertising the GameSense self-exclusion and the importance of joining the program in case of any problems is among the primary goals of BetMGM.
The Final Word
Of course, simply talking about the availability of a problem wouldn’t solve it. However, coping with the growing gambling addiction rates requires complex measures. Preventing the disorder is easier than treating its consequences, which is why reputable operators engage celebrities in their promotional campaigns. Many users would gladly follow the advice of their favourite singer or artist, which can significantly increase awareness of gambling problems globally.
Stars’ engagement in the industry is still more evident when promoting a particular casino brand. However, some support the opposite initiatives, encouraging limiting the time for betting and gambling activities and setting appropriate budget limits.
About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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