A strong and effective responsible gaming environment requires efforts from all participating entities.
In Colorado, the state Lottery certainly is doing its part.
The Colorado Lottery has announced it has attained the highest level of responsible gaming certification offered by the World Lottery Association (WLA).
That’s otherwise known as Level 4 Responsible Gaming Certification.
Lottery’s responsible gaming efforts up 75 percent
The Colorado Lottery joined the WLA in 2018.
And over the ensuing four years, the organization has progressed through all four of the WLA’s certification levels.
It has done so, in its own words, by “expanding its commitments to responsible gaming, both financially, and through specific programs, to keep its players safe.”
To achieve Level 4 WLA certification, lotteries must show that responsible gaming principles are part of daily operations. Additionally, they must demonstrate how they are ”continuously strengthening efforts to promote responsible play.”
To those ends, the Colorado Lottery says it has increased its responsible gaming efforts and funding by 75 percent over the past two years.
Those initiatives and programs include the “Know Your Limits” social and digital media messaging campaign.
The lottery also has provided funding and support to the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado and joined in the promotion of Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March and the “Gift Responsibly” campaign during the holiday season.
It’s mirrored the state’s own recent efforts to increase responsible gaming awareness and funding.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized for our commitment to responsible gaming and consider this certification to be just the beginning,” Colorado Lottery director Tom Seaver said in Wednesday’s news release. “This responsible gaming certification is a testament to our commitment to help players play responsibly. Responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do each, and we will continue to build on our efforts to ensure that we are operating consistent with responsible gaming best practices in our industry.”
WLA recognized as global lottery authority
The WLA represents more than 150 state-sponsored lotteries and gaming organizations. They span 80 countries and six continents.
To assist its members address the critical element of corporate social responsibility, the WLA has developed a set of responsible gaming principles. These serve as the foundation for the organization’s responsible gaming certification program.
Aimed at protecting lottery players worldwide, the principles are designed to “complement and improve the safeguards that individual lottery operators have in place while also allowing for cultural and regional differences.”
The WLA uses 10 responsible gaming program elements in the course of its evaluation and certification processes. They are:
- Research
- Employee programs
- Retailer programs
- Game design
- Remote gaming channels
- Advertising and marketing communications
- Player education
- Treatment referral
- Reporting and measurement
- Stakeholder engagement
The Colorado Lottery’s efforts certainly were met with approval. And its responsible gaming dedication has paid off.
“The Lottery has worked so hard to grow its responsible gaming program in such a short amount of time,” Larry Wall, the PGCC’s executive director, said in the Lottery news release. “We are thrilled that they have been recognized at the highest level for their important efforts.”
