The Journal of Gambling Business and Economics

A Parallel Assessment of Non-Gambling-Based and Gambling-Based Sponsorships of Sports Properties

2022-12-06T20:41:58+00:00

The current study examines the congruence, or lack thereof, of the relationships as identified in two earlier studies: one that addressed sports-based sponsorship and the other that focused on sports gambling. Study one identified a general model of the sports sponsorship environment based upon an array of benefits derived by four categories of beneficiaries that are directly impacted by the sponsorship of a sports entity (i.e., team, athlete, sports venue, and so on). The four categories of beneficiaries were identified as sponsors, sports, spectators, and society-at-large. The original model further examined the interactions among the four categories of beneficiaries while delineating 12 directional linkages and 159 potential benefits. The second study focused on the results emanating from a recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruling that declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to be unconstitutional. That ruling allowed American gambling organizations to become more involved in sports betting, and consequently, they have become engaged in the sponsorship of a variety of sports entities. A similar analysis to the one used in traditional sports sponsorship documented 14 groups of beneficiaries and 201 benefits. The current study, which delineated 215 benefits, extends the previous research by integrating these complementary streams within an overarching sponsorship model. Results demonstrate that the sponsorship environment is more complex than previous research has shown, and several contributions that are both theoretical and managerial in scope are articulated.

Mergers and Consolidation in the U.S. Gambling and Horse Racing Industries: What It Means for Local Economic Development and Taxation

2023-04-26T22:23:22+01:00

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most sectors of the various gambling industries in the United States were showing signs of stagnation or flat growth. Over the past few years, these industries have seen mergers between horse racing tracks, between horse racing tracks and casinos to form “racinos”, and between casino companies. Some gambling facilities and racetracks have closed and have been sold to developers to be used for other purposes. An industry “shakeout” is occurring, and there appears to be a trend towards greater industry concentration as consumers could be showing less interest in gambling in general or that gambling is failing to attract new patrons as it did in past decades. This could be partially fuelled by the stagnation of disposable personal income (DPI) over the past 20 years or so. Consumer preferences and attitudes also seem to have changed regarding horse racing and gambling. Sports gambling and the expansion of online gambling do not appear to have offset negative or flat growth trends. These current conditions are somewhat a reversal of past fortunes in that in the 1980s and 1990s, the opening of a casino in a city was often considered a plus for local economic development. As more consolidation and establishment closures occur, the impact on various local communities and state governments must be examined regarding lost jobs, lost local and state tax revenues, and lost tourism. This paper is an attempt to assess these developments.

Towards a Systems-Based Responsible Gambling Approach to Mitigating Harmful Gambling: Delineating Industry’s Role in Gambling Safety

2023-06-08T13:48:50+01:00

Since the publication of the Reno Model in 2004, stakeholders have grappled with the best way to promote responsible gambling and its essential features. While the Reno Model prescribed a broad set of interacting goals and activities across multiple stakeholders, to date, an in-depth consideration of the specialized role of gambling-industry businesses in promoting responsible gambling remains to be realized. This type of deep dive into industry-oriented responsible gambling is important to accomplish because the gambling industry has unique responsibilities for developing safer gambling environments. Therefore, this position paper provides a strategic framework that describes principles and practices to guide gambling-industry businesses in the implementation of contemporary systems-based responsible gambling initiatives. The foundational systems-based responsible gambling approach sets forth responsible gambling principles for core gambling-industry business units including customer experience, public messaging, data science, game development, regulatory affairs, and the executive level, as well as five main practices to be applied to each business unit: evaluation, research, needs assessment, needs-based training, and technical assistance. This approach is flexible and can be adjusted to reflect different organizations’ unique structures and needs.

Casino Customer Perceptions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

2023-07-18T00:24:28+01:00

Research consistently demonstrates the financial advantages of robust diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in businesses. However, implementing these programs has been slow, and the emergence of anti-DEI initiatives poses challenges for private companies and their employment practices. As companies reassess their DEI initiatives, understanding customer perspectives on these issues becomes crucial. To address this need, this study focuses on customer perceptions of DEI within the in-person casino environment. Previous studies in the casino industry have primarily concentrated on workforce diversity, disregarding the critical aspects of equity and inclusion that profoundly impact both customers and employees. Additionally, no prior research has explored customer perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion within casinos or the extent to which customers prioritize these elements in their decision-making. This research aims to fill this gap by examining the importance that casino customers attach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the key factors influencing their perceptions and decision-making. By evaluating the impact of DEI on customer behavior and spending patterns, casinos can make informed decisions about resource allocation, devise effective marketing strategies, and develop products and services that align with customer values. To measure customer perceptions, a novel index was developed to assess the observed level of diversity, equity, and inclusion within casinos.