The American Gaming Association (AGA) has released its updated Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide, reflecting a notable shift in how U.S. states approach the management of problem gambling. This 2025 edition highlights the move away from discretionary practices toward binding legal obligations, signaling that regulatory enforcement is quickly becoming the norm across the nation’s gaming sector.
According to the AGA, approximately two-thirds of jurisdictions with commercial gaming now compel operators to file a formal responsible gaming plan—a significant rise from just over half in 2022. These plans often include requirements for staff education and the dissemination of public awareness resources. The AGA emphasized that “responsible gaming programmes are a critical part of the U.S. gaming industry’s everyday business,” aiming to enable customers to gamble responsibly while mitigating the risks associated with problem gambling.
Advertising, Data Tools, and State-Level Initiatives
One of the major updates in the 2025 guide is the rise in advertising regulations. The AGA noted that “over eighty percent of commercial gaming jurisdictions have instituted detailed advertising rules, up from seventy percent in 2022.” These rules have expanded beyond simply barring ads aimed at children. For instance, states such as New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois, and New York have adopted measures that prohibit ads in media where underage viewers comprise a certain percentage of the audience.
In addition, the AGA spotlighted growing adoption of data-based tools for early detection of at-risk gambling behavior. Rules now implemented in Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and New Jersey require the use of data analytics and algorithmic triggers to support timely interventions before gambling problems escalate.
Moreover, a growing number of states have committed financial resources toward problem gambling research and treatment. Thirty-two jurisdictions have formal funding provisions, with Indiana, Vermont, Kentucky, and North Carolina earmarking specific annual budgets for responsible gaming programs and studies.
Digital Gambling Spurs More Sophisticated Rules
The regulatory landscape has continued to change since the guide’s last update in September 2022. Rhode Island has legalized internet gaming, while four more states have introduced sports betting laws incorporating responsible gaming safeguards. The guide underscores that the increasing popularity of mobile sports wagering and iGaming has led to broader and more intricate regulatory standards.
“The expansion of mobile sports betting and iGaming since 2022 has coincided with an increase in complexity, sophistication and breadth of responsible gaming rules,” the AGA reported.
A growing number of jurisdictions are now placing limits on financial transactions to curb risky behavior. Seventeen states prohibit the use of credit cards or government-issued benefits for gambling. Furthermore, 29 states mandate that digital gambling platforms offer players tools to set personal limits on losses, time spent gambling, and wager amounts.
Operators Go Beyond Minimum Requirements
Although the guide primarily outlines legal mandates, the AGA stressed that many industry stakeholders voluntarily exceed these standards.
“The gaming industry’s full efforts to promote responsible gaming and address problem gambling go far beyond the legal requirements prescribed in this resource,” the AGA stated.
It added that members “commit to compliance with the AGA Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming, regardless of whether provisions of the code are mandated by regulations in the jurisdictions where they are licensed.”
On top of that, the industry allocates nearly $500 million annually toward responsible gaming initiatives, which include educational outreach, employee training, research funding, and development of new technologies.
The AGA has also spearheaded its own self-regulatory initiative through the Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, last updated in March 2023. This code introduces stricter limits than those found in many state laws, particularly around advertising content and audience targeting.
From State Patchwork to Regulatory Cohesion
While each state retains authority over its gaming laws, the AGA’s findings suggest that the overall framework is trending toward consistency. Common standards are becoming more apparent: 38 jurisdictions require operators to implement self-exclusion programs, 35 states have introduced credit restrictions, 30 require employee training, and 34 have specific guidelines for advertising content.
States are also converging on the need for visible responsible gaming signage and helpline information. Currently, 35 jurisdictions mandate the display of such material within casinos or on online platforms. In many cases, these disclosures are required across various forms of advertising, including digital media and billboards.
Despite the unique differences between jurisdictions, the AGA concluded that “many [responsible gaming laws and regulations] can be summarised into the following broad categories,” which include mandatory gaming plans, self-exclusion tools, funding for treatment, advertising controls, and financial limitations.
Through both regulation and voluntary efforts, the U.S. gaming industry is showing increasing alignment around a unified vision: enabling entertainment while reducing gambling-related harm.
Source:
‘’Responsible Gaming Regulations and Statutes Guide’’, americangaming.org, July 08, 2025.
The post Responsible Gambling Rules Evolve Into Regulatory Standards first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.