Black Hawk, Colo., Aug. 3, 2010 — Ameristar Casinos, Inc. will join with other gaming companies nationwide to participate in Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW) Aug. 2-6, 2010. To commemorate the event, the American Gaming Association (AGA) – the trade association for the U.S. commercial casino industry – and Ameristar Casinos, Inc. have developed a variety of public education activities designed to reinforce the importance of responsible play.
This year’s event, themed “Taking the Mystery Out of the Slot Machine,” shines a spotlight on one of the most widely enjoyed casino games. Consistently ranked the most popular form of casino gaming, there are still a lot of misconceptions about slot machines among gaming employees and patrons. Throughout the week, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk will host activities that dispel common slot machine myths and examine how slots and other casino games function.
“We at Ameristar have a deep and long-standing commitment to promoting responsible gaming,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager Reggie Fullwood. “We want our guests to game and play for entertainment purposes and to have fun. Promoting a greater understanding of how casino games work is a key component of responsible gaming.”
In conjunction with RGEW, the AGA has released a new brochure entitled, “Taking the Mystery Out of the Machine: A Guide to Understanding Slot Machines.” This resource – which will be widely distributed at casinos nationwide both during the event and beyond – explains how slot machines operate, as well as how they are created and regulated.
The new brochure will complement Ameristar Black Hawk’s collection of responsible gaming materials. As in previous years, publications such as the “Keeping It Fun,” and “The House: Advantage: A Guide to Understanding the Odds” brochures will be made available during RGEW. Those resources – along with puzzles, quizzes and games that offer team members an opportunity to refresh their knowledge of important responsible gaming concepts – are critical elements of ongoing education efforts at the gaming establishment.
In addition, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk’s team members will be given buttons and ribbons to wear throughout RGEW, designating them as a source of information for guests who may have questions about the event or who would like to learn more about responsible gaming.
“Responsible gaming is a top priority of every Ameristar team member no matter if they work on the casino floor or in the restaurant venues,” said Fullwood. “Participating in RGEW provides an opportunity to educate our team about gambling disorders, and to empower them to share responsible gaming messages with our guests and our community.”
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk has planned several additional activities to take place during RGEW, including fun contests and quizzes to engage team members.
Ameristar is proud to implement the provisions of the AGA Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming. For more information on the Code of Conduct, visit www.americangaming.org.
RGEW was established in 1998 by the AGA. The event is designed to heighten awareness of responsible gaming and disordered gambling among employees, patrons and the general public. Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk also is involved in other responsible gaming activities and is a partner with the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado.
For additional information about RGEW, including information about other casinos’ activities, please visit www.americangaming.org.
